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).

PDF • “For General Use Until Advent”

If you conduct a volunteer choir, you might consider using this Simple Piece #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) which can be used during the rest of the liturgical season until Advent. It's based on the well known hymn tune: OLD HUNDREDTH. Rehearsal videos are available at #40691. A live recording of #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) by a volunteer choir is here (#40065).

—Jeff Ostrowski

Introit • (This Coming Sunday)

Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”

My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”

—Jeff Ostrowski