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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

A Culture Obsessed With Sensationalism

Jeff Ostrowski · October 28, 2013

The one who tells the story can matter more than the story itself. Suppose I wrote the following:

ITH SWEAT on my brow, I began the final piece on my jury program: a Concerto by Ludwig Van Beethoven. Approaching the recapitulation, I saw one judge raise a hand, saying simply: “Enough.” I stopped playing and knew my career was over.

Pretty dramatic, huh? And every word is true … but there’s one problem: it’s false. But if it’s false, how can every word be true? The author (in this case, myself) is guilty of sensationalism. For example, it’s true they stopped me before the Recap … but they always stop students before the Recap. (In a Classical Concerto, the Recap is the same basic music, transposed to a different key.) It’s true my “career” was over, but that’s because I’d made a decision to switch majors, so this was my last piano jury. And, yes, I was sweating like crazy, mainly because (Uh oh!) I hadn’t memorized the Recap of the Beethoven, since the judges normally stop you before the Recap. Still, just knowing they might ask for the Recap made me nervous. If they did, I was in big trouble.

SENSATIONALISM IS THE SCOURGE of our age. Just look at the reporting on Pope Francis, which has been inaccurate to the point of absurdity. The unqualified journalists who try to “make sense” of what’s happening are totally clueless about even the most basic facts. I’ve been taking a lot of screenshots of the nonsense so I’ll have a record of it forever.

I recently came across an article where Damian Thompson relates an event the same way the piccoluomini might. That is, his account is silly and uninformed to the point of absurdity. A famous concert pianist, Stephen Hough, tears apart the account here. Hough does a good job, so I won’t repeat everything he says. To make a long story short, it’s bizarre that both conductor and pianist were too lazy to discuss things like tempi beforehand, and it was not a “miracle” that Maria João Pires could play a piece she’d performed every year for the past eight years.

If you want to read about a real “miracle” of pianism, read this:

      * *  Story about the Pianist Ignaz Friedman • Story by conductor Georg Schneevoigt

Notice the story is told by a witness who was himself a professional musician. There are similar stories about Hofmann, Gieseking, Rachmaninov, Horowitz, Gould, and many other great pianists. These are real pianistic “miracles,” not the nonsense related by Damian Thompson. [Please notice I am not saying Mr. Thompson is a bad person; but in this particular case, he got it wrong.]

SPEAKING OF SENSATIONALISTIC NONSENSE, the other day I mentioned The Monk’s Tale, which is a biography of Godfrey Diekmann. Perhaps I shouldn’t call it a biography; it’s more of a “hagiography.” Even though it’s written by a Catholic sister, I couldn’t find anything in the book which condemns or criticizes Diekmann’s troubling beliefs, such as his support for women’s ordination to the priesthood or his fanatical promotion of the “hootenanny Mass.” Reading The Monk’s Tale, one also gets the impression that the 1970s ICEL translation (with which Diekmann was quite involved) was the greatest, most wonderful thing of all time. However, folks like Godfrey Diekmann never anticipated the internet, which allows honest Catholics to see for themselves the truth. After all, in the 1970s, the official Latin texts were incredibly expensive and hard to come by, so many Catholics had no idea how inaccurate that first translation was.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ignacy Friedman Pianist, Ignaz Friedman, Pope Francis Last Updated: January 12, 2021

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 14 September (Holy Cross)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for 14 September 2025, which is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)
    A few days ago, I posted a draft copy of this 12-page pamphlet with citations about the laity’s “full, conscious, and active participation.” Its basic point or message is that choir directors should never feel embarrassed to teach real choral music because Vatican II explicitly ordered them to do that! We’ve received tons of mail regarding that pamphlet, with many excellent suggestions for improvement. Please feel free to chime in!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“You have thereby removed from the celebration of the Mass all superstitions, all greed for lucre, and all irreverence … removed its celebrations from private homes and profane places to holy and consecrated sanctuaries. You have banished from the temple of the Lord the more effeminate singing and musical compositions.”

— ‘Bishop Racozonus, speaking at the last session of the Council of Trent (1563)’

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