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Views from the Choir Loft

Thousands of Gospel Acclamations for Organ & Voice

Guest Author · July 8, 2013

What follows is a guest article by Mæstro Jon Naples.

BACKGROUND:

Y PARISH had just adopted the Vatican II hymnal as of Advent 2011. By the following Advent I was sending organ scores to Corpus Christi Watershed for the Garnier Alleluia site. Having the new hymnal provided our church with a unique asset as it is now the only book in our pews instead of the need for supplemental books and worship aids, etc. For the organist, cantor, and choir, the musical scores to the propers chants, responsorial psalms, mass parts, and hymns are just a few clicks away for easy download.

However, at that time I could not find published organ accompaniments for many of the Alleluia tunes found in the front of the book, including the Alleluia in honor of Father Chastellain which we use on Sunday. To that I had no choice but to start composing the organ parts to play on Sunday. Of course, a new verse tune had to be newly made for the cantor each week too.

Later, during the Colloquium of 2012 in Salt Lake City, I was surprised to discover that many of the downloadable scores, and even the varied versions of the new hymnal itself, were very recently composed and edited by so few people, mainly Mr. Jeff Ostrowski, the chief editor, and several other talented people who are working like mad to keep up the supply for a never-ending demand for new scores. Eventually I was offered the opportunity to help with a number of the Garnier tunes. Contributing scores gifted me with an opportunity to help out while it provided an outlet for my favorite hobby: music composition and arranging.


FOREGROUND:

N THE ARRANGEMENTS THEMSELVES, chant-like without time signatures, I try to provide a concise three or four-part accompaniment that works on the organ and keyboard through conventional part writing. The independent lines of music forming the harmony potentially makes them adaptable for an SAT, or SATB choir should such an option ever be desired. Although I do compose the verse tones, I am not the composer of most of the Alleluia tunes themselves. As I mentioned, they were in the front of the hymnal before I got to them.

For the verse tones, I first select and retain a few stock reciting tone formulas, and then add to, or “bend” them forming melodies to accommodate the differing texts each week towards what I would assert to be music’s vital function here: illuminate the gospel text through melody with enough musical friction to fire up the final Alleluia refrain. I am loathe to give a non-directive or tepid sounding musical setting of gospel text. For me, the art in music has always been that it can incise the listener’s understanding unawares, and drive home the message to move the heart as well as the mind. (As simple and brief as these settings are).

A sample may be found here:

      * *  Gospel Acclamation for 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time


THE REQUEST:

LTHOUGH I HAVE CONTRIBUTED NOW 500+ scores (many 1000’s of downloads), it is only now becoming clear that what lies ahead is to complete the three-year cycle. Therefore, if at all possible, please post feedback (specifics if possible) about my settings on the Garnier Alleluia downloads site so that I can try and retain what is working and discard or revise or at least not repeat what does not work. Such as, why the Alleluia in Honor of Father Martin Lawrence Jenco has not been used, to my knowledge at all, while other Alleluias I arrange seem to be in constant use. They include the Alleluias in honor of Frs. Bressani, Le Caron, Dablon, Chastellain, Vimont, Lalemant, Chaumonot, and Jenco.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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Quick Thoughts

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

And since it is becoming that holy things be administered in a holy manner, and of all things this sacrifice is the most holy, the Catholic Church, to the end that it might be worthily and reverently offered and received, instituted many centuries ago the holy canon, which is so free from error that it contains nothing that does not in the highest degree savor of a certain holiness and piety and raise up to God the minds of those who offer.

— Council of Trent (1562)

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