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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

The “Little Rock Nine” & Sacred Music

Jeff Ostrowski · July 22, 2015

478 Little Rock Nine OMETIMES IT CAN FEEL like we’re “all alone” in our battle to promote authentic sacred music, which Fr. John Selner rightly tells us we need in our Catholic churches. When discouraged, it often helps to remember what others have gone through to promote a cause worth fighting for.

Some of us have suffered greatly, but I doubt our trials come anywhere near what was undergone by black children in the 1950s and 1960s. Did you know that in many places, small numbers of children—sometimes only one black child—were sent into schools that were totally white, to promote racial integration? 1 The riots in Little Rock, Arkansas, escalated after nine (9) black students were chosen to attend a white school. The violence forced President Eisenhower to send in federal troops from the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. Each black student had a soldier waiting outside the classroom door to make sure nothing bad happened during the school day. The soldiers would escort the “Little Rock Nine” with rifles drawn each morning. This definitely helped the situation, but black children still underwent great sufferings (because the soldiers only stayed for a limited time). But Faubus couldn’t fight the federal troops sent by Eisenhower, so he closed down the schools. Did he really feel that his plan would succeed? How could closing down the schools be a good plan? Governor George Wallace declared in 1963: “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!” Such words & actions of seem ridiculous and unsustainable, looking back.

Our struggles for sacred music have nothing to do with civil rights. However, perhaps someday we will look back upon our situation and notice progress has been made. Perhaps someday we will look back at our times—when 95% of music directors in Catholic churches “roll the dice” each week to select the hymns instead of using the texts assigned by the Church—and find it strange.

YouTube has a bunch of videos about the Little Rock Nine. Here’s one:


When I consider what the Little Rock Nine underwent, I realize how truly blessed I have been in my life.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   By the way, not all schools were segregated. For example, in Topeka, KS—where Brown Vs. Board of Education happened—the high schools & middle schools were not segregated. My understanding is that only elementary schools were segregated.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: The Little Rock Nine 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Nothing should be allowed that is unworthy of divine worship, nothing that is obviously profane or unfit to express the inner, sacred power of prayer. Nothing odd or unusual is allowable, since such things, far from fostering devotion in the praying community, rather shock and upset it—and impede the proper and rightful cultivation of a devotion faithful to tradition.

— Pope Paul VI • 10/13/1966

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