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Views from the Choir Loft

A Special “Gaudeamus” For 31 May

Jeff Ostrowski · May 7, 2016

HE FOLLOWING is a special version of the “Gaudeamus” (one of my favorite chants) and will be sung for a Solemn Mass offered by our District Superior on 31 May in Los Angeles. You are invited to attend, and we’d love to see you there.


If you visit the St. Goupil website, you can download the musical score.

Some believe the “translation mess” is the result of Vatican II, but that’s not entirely true. In the 1940s, Pope Pius XII approved a new translation of the Psalter for use in the Divine Office. As far as I know, he didn’t approve new antiphons, so the clerics would use one translation for the antiphon and another for the psalm, even when the psalm contained the antiphon. I’ve spoken to many priests (ordained in the 1940s and 1950s) who have a very low opinion on the Pius XII psalter. To them, it was an artless “piece of garbage” that had no value. My understanding is that Pius XII never imposed this new translation on the Church.

What’s interesting is that the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary—created in the 1950s—replaces the psalm verse for “Gaudeamus” with the Pius XII translation. It’s strange to modify such an ancient chant. Moreover, when that same verse is used for the votive Mass, they did not change it:

521 31 May GAUDEAMUS


Nobody has been able to explain why they would change the verse in one ancient chant but not the other. In early February, I emailed several priests about this topic. 1 Here’s a response by one:

Dear Jeff:

Stranger things have happened, and are happening. Years ago I wrote to the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, asking them why the Gospel for the Last Sunday of Pentecost (Matthew 24: 15-35) was nowhere to be found in the NOVUS ORDO lectionary. Believe me, it isn’t there. They eventually wrote back and agreed with me, saying that I was right and that it might possibly be included in some future edition of the lectionary. So far I don’t think this has happened.

Also, I Corinthians 11: 27-29 (about receiving the Eucharist unworthily) is not found in the NOVUS ORDO lectionary! Is it any wonder that so many Catholics go to Communion, but never go to confession?

With regard to your original question, I know they tried to use the Pius XII psalter for new Feasts, e.g. the feast of St. Pius X.

Here’s how the feast appeared in a Solesmes book from 1957. Notice the antiphon for II Vespers is “Beata Mater,” which is the cantus firmus for our 31 May Solemn Mass.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   All of them were ordained in the 1950s and all have advanced degrees in Latin.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Sacred Music Symposium 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

    “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

Random Quote

By far, the event that caused the biggest increase in requests for indults from the morning Mass requirement was the Second World War. The unusual requirements of providing Mass during wartime led to some unique legislation accommodating the time of Mass. Already in 1940, Pope Pius XII issued a motu proprio addressing the situation of holding Mass in countries where a “Black-out” had been ordered.

— Father Shawn P. Tunink

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