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Views from the Choir Loft

Carlo Rossini: “Exaltate Deum Hymnal” (1941)

Jeff Ostrowski · August 10, 2015

412 EXALTATE DEUM ETER MEGGISON has kindly sent me this rare book by Rev. Carlo Rossini. It’s a choral collection with 115 Offertories, Motets, and Hymns for the entire Ecclesiastical year. In the past, I was not a huge fan of Rossini. However, with the passage of time, I’ve come to appreciate a whole lot of what he did:

    * *  PDF • Rossini’s “Exaltate Deum” (1941)

Fr. Rossini understood that the sacred liturgy often requires very short pieces. Unfortunately, this is not always the case with the great choral masterpieces of the Renaissance and Baroque. For example, yesterday I looked at a setting of the “Salve Regina” by a fantastic Renaissance composer—but it was in five (5) sections and would have required about seventeen (17) minutes to sing. I think that’s why Rossini did what he did in this book.

If you appreciate this book, please tell all your friends about Mr. Meggison’s amazing hymn website.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Rev Carlo Rossini 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

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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