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Corpus Christi Watershed

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

“Cannot” vs. “Will Not” in Sacred Music

Jeff Ostrowski · January 26, 2014

ONALD REAGAN was known as “The Great Communicator.” I will probably be remembered as “The Lousy Communicator.” For a long time, I’ve tried to explain that we’re unable to respond to all the emails we receive. If I were to adequately reply to each message, I’d have to stop everything else I’m doing and devote hours to email correspondence. Watershed would then cease to exist, because; (1) the monthly internet fees would not get paid; (2) folks would eventually stop donating because the president is not fulfilling his duties. Therefore, the choice is rather simple, as far as I’m concerned.

Sadly, certain people still believe that our failure to reply to every email is a “choice” we make. I just received a long email (including some very “crude” language) accusing me of all kinds of nasty things for not replying to an email. This person, like several others I’ve encountered, believes that I didn’t reply “because I didn’t want to.” I’ve obviously been unsuccessful in describing the difference 1 between “will not” and “cannot.” For the record, that person also called me “a hypocrite” and “morally bankrupt.”

THIS TOPIC IS ACTUALLY RELATED to Sacred music on a local level. I truly believe that many Catholics, especially priests, desire to have prayerful, dignified, excellent music during their liturgies. This is something they truly want. They’re even willing to pay for it. The problem is, they can’t seem to locate a really good director of music. In other words, it’s impossible for them in spite of their ardent desire.

This probably seems like a fairly “harsh” reality. Well, so be it. In many ways, music is difficult. It requires talent, years of careful listening, and (more often than not) expensive training. From time to time, I’ll notice one of my friends giving a workshop on liturgical music, and I secretly cringe when the advertising implies that a few days’ study will allow the participants to go home and successfully implement a musical program.

However, I have some good news. We’ve been working hard on something special … for about three (3) years! We’re getting very close to releasing information about this project. I’m not a patient person, and resisting the temptation to “let the cat out of the bag” has been extremely difficult. Please join our mailing list so you’ll be the first to hear about this project.

I believe this project will make a tremendous and immediate difference. Granted, this release will only mark the first stage of a large project we have planned. Still, I feel it will make a huge difference and we’re extremely excited!



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Our parents did a good job teaching us what “can” means. When we were children, we’d say, “Mommy, can we go out and play?” She’d invariably reply, “Oh, I’m sure you’re capable of doing that.” Then we’d have to say, “Mommy, may we go out and play?”

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Resources for training in Church music 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). 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 dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on which source text is chosen and what each translator wants to emphasize. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The choir shall henceforth sing or say no anthems of our Lady or other Saints, but only of our Lord, and then not in Latin; but choosing out the best and most sounding to Christian religion they shall turn the same into English, setting thereunto a plain and distinct note for every syllable one: they shall sing them and none other.”

— 1548 Edict of King Edward VI (a heretic) for Lincoln Cathedral

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