• 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)

  • Our Team
    • Views from the Choir Loft • “Our Team”
    • Our Editorial Policy
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Browsing Illuminated Manuscripts in Switzerland

Veronica Brandt · February 8, 2014

G is for Gaudeamus Aarau, Aargauer Kantonsbibliothek, MsWettFm 3, 86r, AD 1330-5 FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN PREPARING more for this year’s homeschool chant classes than the last few years put together. My previous post was about preparing flashcards and quizzes. Today my focus is more on the visual art side.

My husband had some posters printed to promote his drawing business at a local agricultural show. Preparing those files for the printers, I thought of all those beautiful photos of illuminated manuscripts now available on the internet under Creative Commons licences.

So, today I have been browsing the libraries, poring over descriptions in French, German and Italian, looking for pieces of music that could be relevant to the class. Here are my favourites for today:

  • Einsiedeln, Stiftsbibliothek
  • Orselina, Convento della Madonna del Sasso
  • Aarau, Aargauer Kantonsbibliothek

All from Switzerland, many, many, many miles away.

The plan is to go through a collection of chant fragments based around the mysteries of the Rosary. Here in Australia we have four school terms:

  • Term 1 largely in Lent, – sorrowful mysteries
  • Term 2 in Easter/Pentecost, – glorious mysteries
  • Term 3 Ordinary Time, – luminous mysteries
  • Term 4 leading up to Advent – joyful mysteries

And also planning to ensure everyone knows how to sing Pater Noster, Ave Maria, Gloria Patri and Salve Regina. All in 35 minutes, twice a month. Which is a little ambitious, which brings up the idea of making this available online for eager students.

Next I need some way to present recordings to the class…

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. She lives near Sydney, Australia, with her husband and six children.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony. — One of our volunteer choirs also sang that SANCTUS on 24 September 2023, and you can listen to how that came out.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Church has always kept, and wishes still to maintain everywhere, the language of her Liturgy; and, before the sad and violent changes of the 16th century, this eloquent and effective symbol of unity of faith and communion of the faithful was, as you know, cherished in England not less than elsewhere. But this has never been regarded by the Holy See as incompatible with the use of popular hymns in the language of each country.”

— Pope Leo XIII (1898)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • All Seven (7) Movements: “Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel”
  • Composer Kevin Allen in Europe!
  • “Slander!” • (Response to an Accusation We Received)
  • Some Questions Answered
  • Concerning Alterations to the Vatican Edition

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues 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.