Views from the Choir Loft

Resources • 3rd Sunday after Easter (1962 Missal)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 24, 2015

RESPONSES FOR HIGH MASS

PDF Score (Singer) • printed on a single sheet

PROCESSIONAL

Organist.

VIDI AQUAM

Vidi Aquam (Singer PDF)

A special version for the ORGANIST on the Repeat

INTROIT • Sung by the men only.

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer)

KYRIE ELEISON • Palestrina Parody Mass

Part 1 with Impleta Sunt “Christe”

The Solfège for Part 1 is identical to the Sanctus—so you can get your practice videos for Part 1 below.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS • Zachariis (†1594)

Practice Videos and scores

EASTERTIDE GRADUAL (ALLELUIA)

PDF Score (Singer)

Will be sung with a NEW ALLELUIA you can learn here.

CREDO IV • Alternatim

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer) • Organist

OFFRT. ANTIPHON

PDF Score (Singer)

OFFRT. HYMN • Vita Sanctorum with Refrain

Complete score, with polyphony & unison: PDF Score (Singer)

Practice videos for this piece are here.

Score for organist—which will accompany the verses ONLY—can be downloaded here.

SANCTUS • Palestrina (“Vexilla”)

Chant Part • Polyphony Part • Practice the Solfège for the Polyphonic section

AGNUS

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

COMM. ANTIPHON

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer)

COMMUNION HYMN • Salve Festa Dies

PDF Score (Singer) • Organist

Bass Section go here and learn the harmony for the REFRAIN ONLY (“Salve festa dies, etc.”).

Everyone else please learn the unison for the REFRAIN here.

RECESSIONAL HYMN • 844 Come, Ye Faithful, Raise The Strain

From Campion Hymnal.

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