Views from the Choir Loft

Chant Workshop for Clergy

Andrew Leung · December 31, 2015

AINT AMBROSE SCHOOL OF CHANT is organizing a Music Workshop for Clergy entitled, Finding your Voice: The Role of the Priest and Deacon and How to Sing with Confidence. The workshop will be held at Our Lady of the Mountains Roman Catholic Church in Jasper, GA. The event will be from 10am to 2pm on January 16. The deadline for registration is January 5.

Fr. Charles Byrd and Bridget Scott will serve as the faculty members for this workshop. I have worked with both of them in the past; they both have great visions and knowledge of the Liturgy and Sacred Music. Fr. Byrd is the current pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains. Before that, he has taught in seminaries and served on Diocesan Liturgy Committee. Bridget Scott has been working as music director for many years, and she is currently serving as the music director of Our Lady of the Mountains and the chant instructor at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA. Here is how she describe this upcoming workshop:

Singing the dialogue prayers and chants of the Mass can be so intimidating for some priests and deacons that they are reluctant to do so. Others, may find themselves needing a few vocal tips or pointers to make their sung parts a bit more musical and polished. Still others may just desire to become more proficient in singing the Mass by practicing with others. The purpose of this workshop is to help priests and deacons (and deacons-to-be) to feel confident and comfortable chanting the parts of the Mass that are specifically theirs. Singing or chanting the Mass elevates the texts above mere speech and adds to the solemnity and nobility of our worship. It is a worthy endeavor. Please bring a Roman Missal if you have one.

A lot of people are making their new year resolutions right now. Would chanting the Mass be one of those? If you are not a priest, deacon or seminarian, please forward this to your pastors and friends who might find it interesting.

There will be a $25 fee for this workshop that will cover a lunch and the music packet. More information and the registration form can be found on the website of St. Ambrose School of Chant.

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

About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed