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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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“If a pope were only ever applauded, he would have to ask himself whether or not he was doing things right.”

— Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (2016)

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