Views from the Choir Loft

Brand New • “Saint Paul Hymnal”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 15, 2016

ROM the Roman Catholic blog of Saint Paul’s in Harvard Square, we learn of a fantastic new hymnal, which seems to have been produced for their exclusive use. A description is provided, but no sample pages:

* * PDF Download • SAINT PAUL HYMNAL

The hymnal editors were Dr. Jonathan Wessler, Mr. John Robinson, and Fr. Michael Drea. I’m told that some of the traditional “American” Catholic hymns were included such as: Mother of Christ; Sweet Savior, Bless us E’re We Go; and Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All.

My friend Peter Meggison helped with this book and is listed in the acknowledgments as a contributor to the publication. Indeed, many names from the hymnal advisory committee will be familiar to CCW readers:

Msgr. Andrew R. Wadsworth
Executive Director, International Commission on English in the Liturgy

Fr. Michael E. Drea
Pastor and Senior Chaplain, The Parish of St. Paul

Fr. Jonathan M. Gaspar
Director of the Office of Divine Worship, Archdiocese of Boston

Richard J. Clark
Director of Music, St. Cecilia Parish

Chalon S. Murray
Director of Music, St. Helena’s Episcopal Church (Boerne, TX)

Edmund G. Murray
Director of Music, Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church (Houston, TX)

Dr. Susan Treacy
Professor of Music, Ave Maria University (Ave Maria, FL)

More information about the Saint Paul Boys’ Choir School can be found here, and I suspect our own Richard J. Clark and Dr. Lucas Tappan could (perhaps) tell us even more about this wonderful place!

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Dom Pothier • Photo from 1904

Dom Paul Cagin, in a 1904 publication (L’oeuvre de Solesmes dans la restauration du chant grégorien) made sure to include a beautiful image of Dom Pothier, the legendary abbot of St-Wandrille. Also shown is a very young Dom André Mocquereau. Auguste Pécoul—considered the spiritual “son” of Abbat Prosper Guéranger of Solesmes—wrote as follows on 24 June 1901: “To forestall any confusion, let us remember that there is just one Gregorian notation—that restored, according to the ancient manuscripts, by the eminent Abbot of Saint-Wandrille, Dom Pothier.” ✠

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)

I believe 99% of our readers will recognize this hymn tune. Perhaps Father Edgard De Laet should have called it a ‘hymn’ instead of a ‘motet for three voices’—but he’s technically correct, since MOTET is defined as: “a short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied.” The even verses are for three voices, as you will see if you download the PDF score at #20245. The odd verses may be song a cappella SATB or unison with organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of Febr. (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

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PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski