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Views from the Choir Loft

Mass Propers • Fascinating Articles From 1924

Jeff Ostrowski · April 5, 2016

600 Gregorian TEVEN VAN ROODE—the master who typeset the entire book of “Simple English Propers”—has pointed out that an interesting series of articles was published by The Tablet in the 1920s about Mass Propers:

    * *  4 October 1924 • 433-436

    * *  11 October 1924 • 476-478

    * *  18 October 1924 • 497-499

    * *  25 October 1924 • 534-535

    * *  1 November 1924 • 564-566

    * *  8 November 1924 • 614-616

    * *  15 November 1924 • 636-638

    * *  22 November 1924 • 666-670

    * *  29 November 1924 • 702-703

They had wanted to give a monetary prize to the author of the best article, but the judges felt the essays were horrendous:

NE WRITER, instead of telling us how to sing the Proper, pleads for the abrogation of the Church’s law requiring the sacred words to be enounced by the choir at every High Mass or Missa Cantata. Another essayist, the holder of a musical degree, has astounded us by writing nineteen pages, in which neither Introit nor Gradual, neither Offertory nor Communion is so much as mentioned, the whole paper being devoted to the proper way of singing the Ordinary rather than to some good ordinary way of singing the Proper.

After conscientiously perusing and comparing all the papers whose authors have more or less complied with the terms of reference, the adjudicators have come to the conclusion that the batch does not contain an essay which could be properly given the prestige of “The Tablet’s Prize Essay on Voluntary Choirs and the Proper of the Mass.” Therefore, nobody has gained the modest prize of ten guineas which was offered. We have, however, increased the prize-money, and we are dividing it, as honoraria, among the writers of certain papers which will forthwith be printed, either abridged or in extenso.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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).

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Quick Thoughts

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    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —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.
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Random Quote

“…it would be a very praiseworthy thing and the correction would be so easy to make that one could accommodate the chant by gradual changes; and through this it would not lose its original form, since it is only through the binding together of many notes put under short syllables that they become long without any good purpose when it would be sufficient to give one note only.”

— Zarlino (1558) anticipating the Medicæa

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