• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • About
  • Symposium
  • Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Gratefulness

Andrew R. Motyka · November 13, 2013

T’S PROBABLY A BIT EARLY to write a post about Thanksgiving, but by the time Thanksgiving actually comes around, I’m already in full Advent mode.

The other day, I was putting some clean dishes away in the cabinets of our apartment, and one of the doors wouldn’t close all the way. I quickly became frustrated that I had to slightly move the bowls over so that the door had clearance to close. How can anyone be expected to live under those conditions. Anyway, I caught myself almost immediately, thinking about how easily I get annoyed at little things, or even slightly larger things that are trivial in the larger picture. For example, I actually have a place to live and possess plates upon which to put my food.

The next time you get frustrated at your parish, whether it’s because of the praise n’ worship music you hate, or the fact that the cantor actually uses a hand gesture (GASP) to indicate when everyone is to sing, or when Father wears his stole on the outside of his chasuble (I swear, next time I’m wearing my underwear on the outside of my pants), or worst of all, when Andy creates spectacularly long run-on sentences that make you have to go back to the beginning of the paragraph to figure out what he was even talking about, try to put it in some perspective.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t aim for the best we have to offer. I’m saying that we shouldn’t adopt scorched-earth rants just because we had to use that David Haas song that one time.

The other day, I was frustrated about something or other at work, and I had to remind myself just how good I have it. I have a wonderfully talented choir, and they are quite good sports about trying the challenging literature I have thrown at them (and excelled at it). I have a parish that appreciates good liturgy and music, and participate in the singing with no arm-twisting, and don’t complain about the choir singing now and then.

Most of all, what we music directors should all be grateful for is the opportunity to serve God through our musical contributions to the liturgy. I always say that, since my vocation is and always will be to be a husband and father, I would clean filth up if it meant putting food on the table. That I get to do what I love and get paid for it is a blessing indeed.

It’s okay to strive for perfection, and always seek something better. Just keep some perspective and be patient with improvement in your life.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

About Andrew R. Motyka

Andrew Motyka is the Archdiocesan Director of Liturgical Music and Cathedral Music for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Had the Church never spoken on this matter, it would still be repugnant to our Catholic people’s sense of what is fit and proper in the holiest of places, that a priest should have to struggle through the prayers of the Holy Mass, because of such tunes as “Alice, where art thou?” the “Vacant Chair,” and others of more vulgar title, which, through the carelessness or bad judgment of organists, sometimes find their way into our choirs.

— Preface to a Roman Catholic Hymnal (1896)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “A Canon Choirs Love!”
  • On Mistakes (Part I of II)
  • 19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”
  • “Gregorian Chant Not In Danger Pope Tells French”
  • PDF Download • “O Salutaris” (Modern Setting)

Copyright © 2022 Corpus Christi Watershed · Gabriel Lalemant on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.