Views from the Choir Loft

Can You Name These Five Hymns?

Jeff Ostrowski · June 4, 2014

Y DEAR FRIENDS, when the Vatican II Hymnal first appeared, back in 2011, some people said it didn’t contain enough hymns. (They were probably correct, but we had to make sure the book wasn’t too heavy.)

Now’s your chance!

As quickly as possible, please Email me with the most important hymns you think are missing. Please don’t exceed five (5) suggestions. If I notice a whole bunch of people saying “Hymn A” is missing, this will be a tremendous help to me. If Joe says “Hymn B,” Sally says “Hymn C,” Frank says “Hymn D,” and Susie says “Hymn E,” this will be less helpful, but such is life.

You can view the 2011 Hymn Index Pages, or download the PDF scores for all the hymns.

This is time sensitive! Within a short period of time, you’ll understand why. I’m sorry that I cannot give more details at this moment.

May God bless you for your kind support!

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

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).

“Tonus Solemnior” • How old is it?

In the 1962 Missal, a section called “præfationes in tono solemniore” contains ornate melodies for the Preface. An article posted on the blog of the Church Music Association of America claims the tone comes from “the late 19th century” and said its elimination “is one of the very few good things which the post-Conciliar reform did for Gregorian chant.” The author said: “The Roman solemn preface tone is already beautiful enough, there was no need to give a more Romantic feel.”

Some have asked us whether the tonus solemnior comes from “the late 19th century.” It does not. Their author was wrong by at least 400 years. I have seen this tone in MSS from the 1400s—and it may go back even further. Here is an example from 1494AD. And here’s another from the 1400s. The FSSP priests use these tones on high feasts, and the effect is unforgettable.

—Jeff Ostrowski

6 January 2022 • Quick!

A short version of the INTROIT for the feast of the Epiphany has been added to the Saint René Goupil Gregorian Chant Website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Confusing Feasts of Christmas

Whether one considers the Missale Vetustum or the post-conciliar calendar—or even the 1908 calendar—the feasts which follow Christmas are very confusing. Last year I created this comparison chart. I hope you find it helpful. As far as I can tell, my chart is the first effort to carefully detail the changes made to post-Christmas feasts (unless we also count the rather basic one by Lauren Pristas).

—Jeff Ostrowski