Views from the Choir Loft

Musical Resources • Holy Thursday (1962)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 1, 2015

Everything must be done according to the RUBRICS of Pius XII 1955 Holy Week.

RESPONSES FOR HIGH MASS

PDF Score (Singer) • printed on a single sheet

THE INTROIT IS SUNG DURING THE PROCESSION

MEN ONLY: PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer)

KYRIE ELEISON • Palestrina Parody Mass

Part 1 • Part 2 • Practice the Solfège • Part 2 (option)

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS • Zachariis (†1594)

Practice Videos and scores

GRADUAL • There is no Tract Today

PDF Score (Singer) • Audio file (Singer)

There is no CREDO on Holy Thursday.

WASHING OF THE FEET

Antiphon III

PDF Score (Singer) • Video

CONCLUSION • WASHING OF THE FEET

PDF for Singers & Celebrant

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON

PDF Score (Singer)

OFFERTORY POLYPHONY

Arbor Decora w chant

SANCTUS • Morales & Plainsong

Score & Practice Videos

AGNUS • Today, the response each time is: miserere nobis.

Du Fay Agnus Dei • Score • {Women Voice} • {Middle Voice} • {Men Voice}

COMM. ANTIPHON

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer)

COMMUNION POLYPHONY

Kevin Allen • Domine Non Sum Dignus

Here are some passworded videos (29 March 2015) for the FSSP.la choir:

(Equal Voices)

(Women’s Voices)

(Middle Voices)

(Men’s Voices)

PROCESSIONAL HYMN — Pange Lingua • starting pitch = E

#178 in Campion Missal

PDF Score (Singer) • YouTube

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed