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Views from the Choir Loft

The G.I.R.M. Mentions “Hymnus” Only Once …

Jeff Ostrowski · December 3, 2013

964 Lecti MENTIONED IN A 2012 ARTICLE that the official, Latin version of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) uses the word “hymnus” just once. Please correct me in the combox if I’m wrong.

How ironic! As I pointed out, that spot after Communion is the absolute best place to sing a congregational hymn with all the verses. Yet, many parishes don’t seem to realize this … although many are discovering it.

If you want to read my 2012 article, click here.   However, I much prefer this more recent article.

MY 2012 ARTICLE WAS REJECTED for publication by HPR, and I mused on this in a blog post. Some people thought I was criticizing HPR for not publishing my article … but that wasn’t my intent.

That fact is, the article was probably too technical. “Liturgy talk” puts a lot of Catholics to sleep. Then, when you start throwing in stuff like “musical style,” Church documents, and melodic characteristics, it’s hopeless. The subject is just too technical, by it’s very nature, especially in an age where many folks listen exclusively to “beat music” on the radio and may have never heard a polyphonic motet performed well. The subject is also intensely personal: e.g. if a priest in the 1970s allowed a song by the Beatles, an emotional memory is formed, and the suggestion that secular songs be eschewed at Mass might hurt someone’s feelings. (For the record, it works both ways: I have incredibly emotional memories of singing the Pange Lingua as a child on Holy Thursday, etc.)

When it comes to liturgy and sacred music, it’s extremely difficult to make even a short (accurate) statement without spending hours explaining context, noting exceptions, defining one’s terms, and so forth.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Hymns Replacing Propers 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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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    “Slander!” • (Response to an Accusation)
    A reader sent us an email which was both thoughtful and articulate. Feeling it deserved a response, I published this article a few days ago. I included the full letter sent to us by the reader, but that's not all. Indeed, the article became rather lengthy and touched upon a number of different themes. I hope you enjoy it!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Interesting story about Sergei Rachmaninoff
    It's very brief, but I think you would enjoy hearing Benno Moiseiwitsch (d. 1963) tell this really cool story about Sergei Rachmaninoff (d. 1943). Moiseiwitsch, whose playing was admired by Josef Hofmann, had studied with Theodor Leschetizky (d. 1915). I opened my recent article by speaking of a powerful quote Rachmaninoff gave to Robert Croan, music critic for the Post Gazette and professor of voice at Duquesne University.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    [Quiz] • “Do You Know Your Hymns?”
    In case you missed it, many readers have enjoyed taking this little Quiz On Hymns. In the context of that article, I included a sensational quote about the Holy Mass by Monsignor Ronald Knox. Moreover, I talk about how Abraham Lincoln's mother died, as well as a fabulous Eucharistic hymn by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“We must remember that the important elements of a rite are not the things that will first be noticed by a casual and ignorant onlooker—the number of candles, colour of the vestments and places where the bell is rung—but just those things he would not notice: the Canon, fraction and so on, the prayers said in a low voice and the characteristic but less obvious rites done by the celebrant at the altar.”

— Fr. Fortescue explaining that Anglicanism does not preserve Sarum

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  • Vollaerts Revisited

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