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Views from the Choir Loft

Five signs you might be a Hymn Geek

Veronica Brandt · July 26, 2014

346 Pope Francis Hymn Book HERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK of a definitive list available to describe the Hymn Geek. I find mentions of Chant Geeks and Liturgical Geeks, but search for Hymn Geek and you get a hundred and one Geek Hymns.

Maybe this is fair enough. Hymns have a subordinate role to play in Sacred Music, and yet, as Sir R R Terry, inaugural Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, observes:

“Of all forms of church music, the one which seems to have wielded an influence out of all proportion to its intrinsic worth is the vernacular hymn.” – Richard R Terry, 1927.

Hymns are influential, popular and full of history and trivial details, making a fertile ground for susceptible personalities to develop their geekish tendencies.

So, on to the list, signs that you might be a Hymn Geek:

1. You know the tune for Fr Faber’s O Purest Of Creatures and it’s not the Lourdes Hymn. (Speaking of the Lourdes Hymn, you are aware that the accent in the word Ave should be on the first syllable.)

2. There are hymns you have read in hymnbooks, but haven’t heard sung in a liturgical setting.

3. You can sort hymns by meter, age and country of origin.

4. You know Hyfrydol is not a cooking oil.

5. You care about verses being omitted.

I’m sure you can find many more manifestations of Hymn Geek-ness and I would love to hear them. The comment box is open.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

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

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)

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