Views from the Choir Loft

We want to be fed

Veronica Brandt · January 10, 2015

EADING THROUGH A TRAIL of earlier posts here, starting with Andrew’s on The American Idolization of Liturgy the one thing resounded with me:

We aren’t being fed.

Here I should insert some sobering statistics on the decline in Mass attendance but I might leave that for you. My daughter is heading for a late night and I’d like to take a turn in the game of getting her to sleep.

There are many proposed answers to the general malaise. Our mission to encourage sacred music is a key part as something that links the heart and mind.

A project I heard of last year was We Want to be Taught by Mons Reilly from Helpers of God’s Precious Infants. He proposes a Catechetical Lectionary for the Sundays in Ordinary Time. Faith comes by hearing and the Sunday homilies are the only opportunity many Catholics have to hear it.

On the one hand I hesitate as I’m still stuck back in the Vetus Ordo reading schedule with the same readings each year, but as I understand it, these readings are backed up by several collections of homilies refined over the centuries, so they are used to impart a coherent message.

I’m glad I’m not the one to decide.

Go and make disciples.

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).

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

Worst Hymn Pairing Of All Time?

For hymns in the Brébeuf Portal not yet recorded by human voices, I’ve been attempting to create recordings on the pipe organ. My latest attempt (Mp3) is a hymn called “DAVOST.” It’s a nice tune, but it must be paired with just the right lyrics. Do sickening examples of hymn pairings exist? Oh, most certainly! To download the most ghastly pairing I know, try this one—if your stomach is strong enough. If such things interest you, check out: “Six Pernicious Hymn Pairings.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff’s Attempt at Pipe Organ “Stops”

I've been attempting to record some Brébeuf hymns on the pipe organ, but I know very little about registration (“stops”). You can listen to this morning's attempt, a recording of a tune called TRINITY COLLEGE. Do you know this tune? It's quite nice. Feel free to email me vis-à-vis the registration I chose. To quickly locate all instances of the TRINITY COLLEGE melody in the Brébeuf Hymnal, search the magic portal for “Trinity College.”

—Jeff Ostrowski