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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Immac. Conception Music Booklet

Jeff Ostrowski · December 8, 2016

583 Mary IMAGE OW SIMPLE is a “simple” Mass? Here at FSSP.la, we do a lot of polyphony. We also do tons of hymns and modern music. 1 But every so often we have a “simple” Mass, consisting of only plainsong.

When you download the booklet, I think you’ll agree that even a “simple” Mass is not that simple:

    * *  PDF Booklet • IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

By the way, make sure to read the translation of the Offertory Hymn. A more gorgeous text does not exist.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Most of our volunteer singers cannot read music, yet they are starting to sound really good. I recently heard a Cathedral choir sing Palestrina, Victoria, and plainsong for a televised Mass. All their singers are paid, yet—and this amazed me—our volunteer choir sounds better! That reminds us that paid singers don’t necessarily guarantee a beautiful performance.

Sometimes we’re so “close” to our choirs we can’t accurately judge how they sound. Shortly after we got married, I sketched my wife’s face in Conté crayon. I thought the result was awful, but she made me preserve it. I found it in the garage, and after all these years it looks a lot better than I had initially thought. The same is true of choirs, and a guest conductor can often give a nice perspective.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download 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

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Goupil deserves the name of martyr not only because he has been murdered by the enemies of God and His Church while laboring in ardent charity for his neighbor, but most of all because he was killed for being at prayer and notably for making the Sign of the Cross.

— St. Isaac Jogues (after the martyrdom of Saint René Goupil)

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