Views from the Choir Loft

What? Sundays after Pentecost?

Jeff Ostrowski · October 15, 2015

OR THE FINAL SUNDAYS after Pentecost, something funky happens in the Extraordinary Form. The propers are repeated over and over, but the readings are taken from various Sundays after Epiphany, depending on how many “extra” Sundays occur. In the CAMPION MISSAL, there’s an explanation chart, and then every possible Sunday is fully written out (even extremely rare ones) making things easy on the congregation.

Here’s that chart, with the key sentence highlighted in yellow:

209 Sundays after Pentecost

Be careful this year.

25 October is Christ the King Sunday (replacing the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost). The next Sunday (November 1st) is the feast of All Saints. Then, 8-Nov, 15-Nov, and 22-Nov use the same propers. Your Schola Cantorum will probably get pretty good at these…

For the record, here’s what Fr. Adrian Fortescue has to say about “Sundays after Trinity” vs. “Sundays after Pentecost” :

203 Sarum Rite Fortescue

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).

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

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