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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Rehearsal videos • “Veni Creator Spiritus” (Fauxbourdon)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 25, 2016

UILDING A CHOIR is like rolling a snow ball. Good singers are attracted by hearing other good singers, but it’s difficult until “the ball gets rolling.” At first, many choirmasters will use music for three voices, and some feel fauxbourdon is suitable for beginners. Others feel that fauxbourdon requires highly sophisticated ears, even though it looks simple. In any event—whether you begin or end with it—don’t neglect sensational composers like John Dunstable (d. 1453) and Guillaume Du Fay (d. 1474).

To give you an idea how this “Veni Creator” fauxbourdon sounds, I recorded rehearsal videos—but it sounds much better done by a real choir (especially with 12+ voices):

    * *  PDF Download • “VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS” (Fauxbourdon)

REHEARSAL VIDEOS :

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube   •   Mp3 Audio

LADIES : YouTube   •   Audio

TENOR : YouTube   •   Audio

BASS : YouTube   •   Audio

More than fifty singers will use this version for a special ceremony in Los Angeles with Archbishop Gomez on Tuesday, 31 May 2016—everyone is invited!

Sometimes, modern ears don’t enjoy the sound of extremely ancient music, 1 but I love it! Moreover, when I hear this type of music, I feel like I’m being given a special glimpse into how polyphony was first developed. Choirmasters working with more advanced singers might enjoy the Du Fay version sent to me by Mr. Rick Wheeler.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Circa 1905, during the creation of the Editio Vaticana (which is still the official edition of the Catholic Church), Dr. Peter Wagner warned against the employment of ancient modalities offensive to the modern ear:

“He recalled the refined taste of the Germans in matters of music, and the severity that they would express in evaluating the Vatican Edition if it were to present the rough edges of a bygone era which can no longer be tolerated today.”

Although I respect Dr. Wagner very much, he had a poor sense of Gregorian modality, if his plainsong organ accompaniments are any indication. (Saying this gives me no pleasure.) In 2008, we placed a whole bunch of Peter Wagner accompaniments in the Lalande Internet Library; so you can judge for yourself.

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on which source text is chosen and what each translator wants to emphasize. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“It is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes

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