Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for October 2015

Christopher Mueller · October 12, 2015

Rediscovering “Musicam Sacram”

I encountered anew this wonderfully clear and concise document about music in the liturgy.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 11, 2015

Kyrie XI • Gregorian Chant

I’ve wrongly neglected this famous chant.

Fr. David Friel · October 11, 2015

World Meeting of Families 2015 & the Papal Visit to Philadelphia — Part 1 of 2

A Behind-the-Scenes Look

Jeff Ostrowski · October 10, 2015

Musical Resources • 20th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“May these mysteries, we beseech thee, O Lord, bring us from heaven a healing medicine…”

Corpus Christi Watershed · October 10, 2015

VIDEO • Fr. Kevin Vogel On Gregorian Chant

This video will interest lovers of sacred music.

Veronica Brandt · October 10, 2015

New CD by the Sistine Chapel Choir

Watch for more about the first ever commercial recording from the Sistine Chapel.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 10, 2015

The Week In Review

Seven random thoughts…

Richard J. Clark · October 9, 2015

Digital vs. Pipe Organ • Who Wins?

The debate between digital and pipe organs as been intensified by a collaboration between Sony’s GRAMMY®-nominated artist, Cameron Carpenter and organ builders Marshall & Ogletree. Is it a revolution?

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · October 8, 2015

Family and Work: both are full time jobs

My children are now grown, but I’m not about to reveal any family secrets!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 7, 2015

Sloppy 1953 Schwann

The “white notes” (as Dr. Joseph Lennards called them) are quite sloppy, which really took me by surprise.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · October 6, 2015

The Power of Good Music

Please, please don’t ever underestimate the power of good music to touch hearts in either the work of evangelization or catechesis.

Aurelio Porfiri · October 5, 2015

Something Unexpected

Music is not and cannot be neutral.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 3, 2015

Worst Song Ever?

What Church musicians can learn from “Friday” by Rebecca Black.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 3, 2015

Loading Choir Binders For Sunday (4 October)

The life of a choirmaster is a life of sacrifice…

Richard J. Clark · October 2, 2015

Believe. Connect. Disappear.

The older I get, I prepare more not to receive accolades, but to become invisible.

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Luis Martínez Must Go!

Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

—Jeff Ostrowski

Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!

A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed