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Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Video • “Three Approaches To A Catholic Hymn”

Jeff Ostrowski · June 10, 2015

The following video shows three (3) ways that hymns are sung by our choir:


That haunting setting—in English—of the PANGE LINGUA of St. Thomas Aquinas was taken from the Campion Hymnal. It can also be sung in Latin, and the “Second Approach” (see video) is a good way for amateur choirs. Here’s the score with English translation by Fr. Adrian Fortescue:

    * *  PDF Download • “SECOND APPROACH”

The “Second Approach” should not be sung without organ accompaniment. When we use this approach, I often provide rehearsal files like these:

Equal voices   •   YouTube   •   Audio Mp3

Ladies   •   YouTube   •   Audio Mp3

Gentlemen   •   YouTube   •   Audio Mp3

How do you sing hymns? Please let me know on the CCW Facebook page or send an Email using the “CONTACT” button at the top.

WE WILL SOON RELEASE more information about the SAINT JEAN DE BRÉBEUF HYMNAL project. Among other things, we will release our “goals & criteria” for this hymnal—but we’re not finished fighting over them yet!  Here’s one thing we all agree upon:

There is such a thing as beautiful language. Not all language is beautiful. By the way, “beautiful” is not the same as “old.”

One practice that distinguished the Campion Hymnal was how—in addition to the common hymns all Catholics know and love—many lesser-known texts were paired with beautiful melodies, as was done in the 19th-century hymnals as a matter of course. We will continue this practice in the Brébeuf. By clicking on the HYMNAL BUTTON—located at top of the page—and scrolling down, you can start emailing your hymn suggestions. Please follow the Pie Pellicane Rule when sending suggestions:

PIE PELLICANE RULE :
If you send a hymn suggestion, explain the significance. Don’t assume everyone understands. In the beautiful hymn Adoro Te Devote (St. Thomas Aquinas) a line says “Pie Pellicane,” referring to an ancient legend that—if her children are dying of hunger—the mother pelican will wound herself, feeding her children with her own blood. That’s why Christ is called the “Divine Pelican.” Understanding the significance behind a hymn is important. Don’t assume everyone understands why you’re moved by a given hymn.

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 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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

23 May 2022 • FEEDBACK

From a reader: “I wasn’t looking for it. But, I stumbled across your hand-dandy arrangement of Pachelbel’s Canon. Jeff, this is the greatest thing since sliced bread! I had to play a wedding on Saturday. The bride requested the Canon. There were 11 bridesmaids! The organ loft is a football field away from the communion rail. It’s so difficult to play and keep checking the mirror. Your arrangement is absolutely genius. One can skip and choose which variations to use. The chord names are handy so that when my eyes are off the music, I always know where I am at. A thousand times thank you for sharing this arrangement!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“As late as 1834, British society had many restrictions on any person not adhering to the Anglican church. For example, Roman Catholics could not attend a university, serve on a city council, be a member of Parliament, serve in the armed forces, or even serve on a jury.”

— Regarding the Church of Henry VIII

Recent Posts

  • 23 May 2022 • FEEDBACK
  • PDF Download • “A Canon Choirs Love!”
  • On Mistakes (Part I of II)
  • 19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”
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