Views from the Choir Loft

Photos • Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference

Jeff Ostrowski · January 31, 2017

HE TRADITIONAL Latin Mass Society of San Francisco has posted beautiful photographs of the concluding Mass for the Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference held a few months ago in Los Angeles. The FSSP.la choir which I direct was honored to provide the music:

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The celebrant was Fr. Federico Masutti, FSSP, assisted by Fr. James Fryar, FSSP (Deacon, homilist), and Fr. Zachary Akers, FSSP (Subdeacon).

Presentations were delivered at this conference by the Executive Director of the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship, the Executive Director of ICEL, and many others.

Here we are warming up for the Mass:

Some snippets from the actual Mass, recorded live:

* * Mp3 “Live” • KYRIE (Guerrero)

* * Mp3 “Live” • GLORIA (Viadana)

* * Mp3 “Live” • ALLELUIA (Guerrero)

* * Mp3 “Live” • HYMN TO THE SACRED TRINITY (Guerrero)

* * Mp3 “Live” • SANCTUS (Guerrero)

* * Mp3 “Live” • AGNUS DEI (Guerrero)

Somebody had a pocket recorder in the Soprano section, which means the Soprano line sometimes comes through too loud. I apologize for the poor quality of the recording, but that’s how the cookie crumbles. These brought back beautiful memories!

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).

“Tonus Solemnior” • How old is it?

In the 1962 Missal, a section called “præfationes in tono solemniore” contains ornate melodies for the Preface. An article posted on the blog of the Church Music Association of America claims the tone comes from “the late 19th century” and said its elimination “is one of the very few good things which the post-Conciliar reform did for Gregorian chant.” The author said: “The Roman solemn preface tone is already beautiful enough, there was no need to give a more Romantic feel.”

Some have asked us whether the tonus solemnior comes from “the late 19th century.” It does not. Their author was wrong by at least 400 years. I have seen this tone in MSS from the 1400s—and it may go back even further. Here is an example from 1494AD. And here’s another from the 1400s. The FSSP priests use these tones on high feasts, and the effect is unforgettable.

—Jeff Ostrowski

6 January 2022 • Quick!

A short version of the INTROIT for the feast of the Epiphany has been added to the Saint René Goupil Gregorian Chant Website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Confusing Feasts of Christmas

Whether one considers the Missale Vetustum or the post-conciliar calendar—or even the 1908 calendar—the feasts which follow Christmas are very confusing. Last year I created this comparison chart. I hope you find it helpful. As far as I can tell, my chart is the first effort to carefully detail the changes made to post-Christmas feasts (unless we also count the rather basic one by Lauren Pristas).

—Jeff Ostrowski