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Views from the Choir Loft

Important Resources for Liturgical Reform (1 of 7)

Richard J. Clark · August 8, 2014

HILE STRIVING FOR the ideal in liturgy we also deal in the real world with real people. This makes our work challenging yet all the more rewarding as we edge closer and closer toward singing the mass and toward more reverent liturgy—nurturing both exterior and interior prayer. By this we hope to achieve what Saint Pius X states as the purpose of the liturgy: “…the Glory of God and the edification and sanctification of the faithful.” (Tra le Sollecitudini, General principles §1)

We are but imperfect in our frail humanity, and to achieve such goals we rely on God and each other! With choirs resuming recruitment and rehearsals, many are searching for new resources and direction. Some mainstream resources are geared towards maximizing market share; there are a number of others, perhaps lesser known that have the above words of St. Pius X and Sacrosanctum Concilium in mind. Therefore, this week, the writers of “Views” intend to shine the light not only on their own wonderful work but also on resources that your choir may find useful, affordable, and in many cases free.

OR ANY CHOIR ASKING THE QUESTION, “WHERE DO I BEGIN?” A great starting point is the astoundingly comprehensive Liturgical Planning pages of CanticaNOVA Publications. Senior Editor Gary Penkala has compiled lists of resources and suggested music for every Sunday and feast day of the liturgical calendar for the Novus Ordo.

A typical index for any given Sunday or feast day will list suggested settings in order of priority. Listed first are the official texts of the mass to be sung, i.e., the propers and the ordinary. For example, the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) lists multiple options for the Introit, Gradual/Responsorial Psalm, Alleluia, Offertory, and Communion. This includes Gregorian chant from the Graduale Romanum to various settings in English including those composed by the likes of Bartlett, Motyka, Oost-Zinner, Tietze, Rice, Ostrowski, etc. Links are provided to various sources. Some resources are free and some are available through CanticaNOVA Publications.

NLY AFTER THE PROPERS AND THE ORDINARY will you find suggestions for hymns and choral anthems. You can be certain that the hymns listed are theologically sound! For organists, there is a comprehensive list of organ repertoire suitable for preludes and postludes, etc.

At the bottom, you will always find very useful the “Liturgical Hints and Ideas.” For example, he discusses and provides links for general sources of the propers for what is described as “Real and authentic Catholic liturgical music.”

Finally, I offer a sampling of my own resources. Some are published with CanticaNOVA, some are free, and other published with RJC Cecilia Music.

      * *  Mass of the Angels • CanticaNOVA Publications
      * *  Mass in Honor of Pope Saint John Paul II • Free Download – Corpus Christi Watershed
      * *  Sacred Choral Works • RJC Cecilia Music
      * *  Chant Based Organ Works • RJC Cecilia Music


7-part series:   “Important Resources for Liturgical Reform”

FIRST PART • Richard Clark

SECOND PART • Veronica Brandt

THIRD PART • Fr. David Friel

FOURTH PART • Jeff Ostrowski

FIFTH PART • Jon Naples

SIXTH PART • Andrew Motyka

SEVENTH PART • Peter Kwasniewski

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: CanticaNOVA Publications, Reform of the Reform Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Message from the Vice-President!
    The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn
    A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!”   Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Seven (7) Hymn Verses for November!
    In the month of November, we remember in a special way the souls in purgatory. The BRÉBEUF HYMNAL often includes text alone versions for its hymns; why is that? The short answer is: flexibility. The “text only” version allows each choirmaster to employ a myriad of melodies. For example, I recently set the English translation of “De Profúndis” with the DAVOST MELODY (PDF). We are singing this before November ends. Indeed, you can hear our volunteer singing this (in real life) if you click here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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