Views from the Choir Loft

Can You Hear The Difference?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 24, 2016

T HAS BEEN and continues to be my belief that mixing “real voices” for the Watershed rehearsal videos sounds better than having just my voice singing all the parts.

The following videos allow for an “Apples to Apples” comparison:

* Version A • Jeff’s Voice Only

* Version B • “Real” Voices (Men & Women)

Do you agree Version B sounds a lot nicer? Please let me know your thoughts in the Watershed combox on Facebook. ¹

A true choral sound—which is what composers usually had in mind—requires a minimum of three (3) voices per part. That means the minimum number of voices for SATB is twelve singers. We cannot manage something like that for these rehearsal videos…but maybe some day! Father Carlo Rossini probably had a point when he demanded five singers on each part. Even the world’s greatest four (4) singers singing SATB cannot replace a choir sound.

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 While I do not have personal a Facebook account, pertinent comments are forwarded to me by a CCW volunteer.

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

List • Responses by each bishop!

This incredible website gives each bishop’s response to the recent MOTU PROPRIO Traditionis Custodes, a decree by Pope Francis which seeks to reduce the number of celebrations of the “Extraordinary Form” (Traditional Latin Mass): traditioniscustodes.info

—Jeff Ostrowski

Tomorrow is Sunday…

When you were in school, you would have gotten in trouble if you wrote the Roman Numeral “9” as viiii. You were supposed to write: IX. But look how an ancient manuscript writes “9” as a Roman Numeral. That’s the Introit Ecce Deus for tomorrow’s feast in the Extraordinary Form: The 9th Sunday after Pentecost.

—Jeff Ostrowski

24 July 2021 • “Two Teams”

Anyone familiar with the so-called “Traditionalist Catholic” movement knows that (like every other group) it contains some bad apples. Anyone can self-identify as a “Traditionalist Catholic”—even those who are mentally ill, those who beat their wives, and even folks who are emotionally disturbed. All of us know TLM Catholics who are so arrogant they make Narcissus look like the most humble guy who ever lived. However, I believe Traditionis Custodes will exacerbate the situation. Under B16, we were “all on the same team.” But this new decree by Pope Francis makes it seem like there are two opposing “teams” in the Church.

—Jeff Ostrowski