Views from the Choir Loft

Working on a Compline booklet

Veronica Brandt · April 12, 2014

VERY NIGHT MY FAMILY SINGS Compline together. It is an awesome habit to have in place. The peace and regular practice of singing together is valuable, but there is another side effect. Our cat loves this as a time when she has her humans staying still, ready to smoodge up against, and our toddling daughter finds she has a captive audience for her latest accomplishments.

We go by the 1962 Roman rite books, like in the ’62 Liber Usualis.

I have been working on a booklet, and mentioned it here, a few months ago.

Now Holy Week is almost upon us, I have recently added a note at the end about Compline in the Sacred Triduum. Hopefully I can finish the Easter Octave section this week, but it is going to be busy!

Last time I linked to my GitLab repo, but that was probably not very accomodating. So here is the work in progress (yes, it will probably forever be a work in progress, but it keeps getting better, and you are welcome to take it and fit it to your needs/wants)

* * DOWNLOAD HERE

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

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).

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

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