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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders”—is that English idiom? “For the Nazis, and all the Germans, except they say Heil Hitler! meet not in the street, holding their lives valuable”—is that English idiom?

— Monsignor Ronald Knox

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  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”

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