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

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Views from the Choir Loft

“Look Beyond The Bread You Eat” (Part 1)

Jeff Ostrowski · November 18, 2013

ERTAIN THINGS SEEM self-evident to me, yet other people have a completely different view. For example, observing our children I see a million daily miracles: the way their brains develop, the way their bodies grow perfectly, the way their tiny teeth come in, and so forth. Such things could not be the result of “blind luck.” God even “spaces” children naturally, allowing us to practice our parenting skills without being overwhelmed. To me, God’s perfect designs couldn’t be more obvious. Yet, some believe everything was caused by “dumb luck.”

I’ll never forget being in graduate school and hearing one of the professors (whose field was Renaissance polyphony) explain that the singers in those days “probably couldn’t sing in tune.” In this condemnation were included the masters themselves — Marenzio, Victoria, Palestrina, etc. — who were often hired as singers (not composers), although this might strike us as odd. Recalling this statement (even so many years later) makes my brain explode with rage. After all, those who study Renaissance polyphony realize the intricate, nay, delicate way the music is constructed. The chordal structure * is carefully built following certain sonic rules — don’t double the third, avoid certain inversions, etc. — which is partially why their music sounds so magnificent. Would such attention have been paid to detail if the singers at that time couldn’t sing in tune? That would be like some historian 400 years from now explaining our culture (which puts such effort into building the most perfect vehicles) and declaring, “Well, nobody back then actually drove those vehicles.”

I am reminded of an interview with a modern pianist (I believe it was Murray Perahia). The interviewer said, “If you could go back in time and meet one composer, and hear him play, who would it be?” The pianist said, “Johannes Brahms.” Really? Brahms? I mean, Brahms was certainly a wonderful composer … but what an odd choice and what a sad testimony to our modern musicians. After all, we can more or less surmise what Brahms sounded like — and we even have a faint recording of his playing. Why not J.S. Bach? Or, even better, why not Palestrina, Victoria, or Lassus? Or why not Morales? Wouldn’t that be something? To hear what those choirs really sounded like!

*   Musicologists are liable to blow a blood vessel if they read this, because it’s forbidden to mention “chords” in the same sentence as Renaissance music. However, when it comes to music of the High Renaissance (more or less after 1550), the evidence of a “chordal sense” is there for all to see, and incredibly inconvenient for certain “accepted” theories.

This article is part of a series:

Part 1   •   Part 2

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Contract Between Priest And Musician Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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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
7 June 2022 • FEEDBACK

From Chelan, Washington: “CCWatershed is a God-sent resource that I can’t function without! Such great work by the team to bring beauty back to our liturgy!” From Gainesville, Florida: “I am so appreciative of the work, of my brothers and sisters in music!” From Troutman, North Carolina: “Keep up the excellent work in service of the Liturgy!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The following question is asked by the Most Reverend Lord Bishop of the Diocese of Chur: May this Diocese’s ancient custom be continued of having the Celebrant in Sung Masses (excepting more solemn Masses) intone the Credo and when he is finished reciting it going on immediately to the offertory and finishing it while the credo is being sung by the choir?” (Dubium of Dec 1909)

— 11 December 1909

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