Views from the Choir Loft

Richard Rice • SATB Kyrie from Mass VIII

Jeff Ostrowski · June 22, 2015

ICHARD RICE has composed a wonderful choral version of Kyrie VIII and graciously made the official score available for free. To make it easier for my choir to sing—since our volunteer choir includes amateurs uncomfortable with repeat barlines—I have created a performance edition.

The following audio excerpt removes the organ to demonstrate the lush harmonies:

* * Audio Excerpt • Voices without organ

Listen to the first Kyrie without the Soprano line:

* * Audio Excerpt • Without Soprano

Can you hear the tune? Here’s that same section with Soprano included.

Organists might appreciate downloading this.

THE FOLLOWING REHEARSAL RESOURCES will help your choir learn this lovely piece & sing it with confidence:

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube • Mp3 Audio

SOPRANO : YouTube • Audio

ALTO : YouTube • Audio

TENOR : YouTube • Audio

BASS : YouTube • Audio

Mr. Rice has composed choral versions for each section of Mass VIII. The complete score is 25 pages, and was posted on the CMAA forum a few weeks ago.

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

List • Responses by each bishop!

This incredible website gives each bishop’s response to the recent MOTU PROPRIO Traditionis Custodes, a decree by Pope Francis which seeks to reduce the number of celebrations of the “Extraordinary Form” (Traditional Latin Mass): traditioniscustodes.info

—Jeff Ostrowski

Tomorrow is Sunday…

When you were in school, you would have gotten in trouble if you wrote the Roman Numeral “9” as viiii. You were supposed to write: IX. But look how an ancient manuscript writes “9” as a Roman Numeral. That’s the Introit Ecce Deus for tomorrow’s feast in the Extraordinary Form: The 9th Sunday after Pentecost.

—Jeff Ostrowski

24 July 2021 • “Two Teams”

Anyone familiar with the so-called “Traditionalist Catholic” movement knows that (like every other group) it contains some bad apples. Anyone can self-identify as a “Traditionalist Catholic”—even those who are mentally ill, those who beat their wives, and even folks who are emotionally disturbed. All of us know TLM Catholics who are so arrogant they make Narcissus look like the most humble guy who ever lived. However, I believe Traditionis Custodes will exacerbate the situation. Under B16, we were “all on the same team.” But this new decree by Pope Francis makes it seem like there are two opposing “teams” in the Church.

—Jeff Ostrowski