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Views from the Choir Loft

Church Needs “Disposable Art” Created To Last “Not Centuries, But Weeks (Or Hours).”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 18, 2015

498 liturgy Gabe Huck USED TO BELIEVE the craziness which some deemed “liturgical reform” began after Vatican II and reached a low point in the 1990s. Over the years, I’ve learned I was wrong—it began much earlier. Consider this excerpt from Maurice Lavanoux’s Liturgical Arts (2 February 1970), authored by Fr. Robert W. Hovda (1920-1992) and Gabe Huck, two leaders of the “progressive” liturgical movement:

HERE ARE NO RIGID CRITERIA for selecting good music for the liturgy. In recent months many songs have appeared that could well find an appropriate place in the liturgy; these might include “Both Sides Now”; “Abraham, Martin and John”; “Mrs. Robinson”; “Gentle On My Mind” (there is a real need for good love songs in the liturgy); and “Little Green Apples.” In a sense we need “disposable” music just as we need, and to some extent have, “disposable” art objects which are created to last not centuries, but weeks, (or hours). Our secular music is that way; the amount of new material is so great that even many good things pass quickly. While many of the songs from the folk and pop lists (as well as the country-western list or the Broadway list) do not have the depth or quality to last for decades, they still have the power to enrich the liturgy here and now.

Fr. Robert W. Hovda was highly regarded by the Collegeville Press—they called him “the renowned liturgist”—and continued to be cited (and praised) by that group even after certain of his views became known. Gabe Huck, too, was publicly praised by many progressive liturgists.

Here’s a CMAA review from the 1970s:

500 Robert W. Hovda liturgical

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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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
7 June 2022 • FEEDBACK

From Chelan, Washington: “CCWatershed is a God-sent resource that I can’t function without! Such great work by the team to bring beauty back to our liturgy!” From Gainesville, Florida: “I am so appreciative of the work, of my brothers and sisters in music!” From Troutman, North Carolina: “Keep up the excellent work in service of the Liturgy!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

In the ’60s, I thought this emphasis on congregational singing was to encourage good Catholic hymns like “Immaculate Mary” and so forth … but after the Council, they threw them out, too!

— ‘Fr. Valentine Young, OFM (2007)’

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