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Corpus Christi Watershed

We’re a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2006. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and run no advertisements. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors.

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Views from the Choir Loft

GoFundMe Campaign • Needing Scholarships!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 10, 2017

O CURSE THE DARKNESS is easier than lighting a candle. Many good Catholics want to restore sacred music to our churches, but don’t know how. This post is not really aimed at church musicians—who often live paycheck to paycheck. It’s geared toward Catholics searching for a worthwhile place to invest money—in this case, helping Catholic musicians who can’t afford to attend the Sacred Music Symposium. (Part of Lent is “almsgiving”—not just fasting.)

We’ve never used “GoFundMe” before, but let’s try it:

    * *  GoFundMe • SYMPOSIUM SCHOLARSHIPS 2017

This 2-minute video has footage by James & Mikio Sheehan:

From a Seminarian in Los Angeles:

REETINGS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH for this wonderful service to the West Coast, especially the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. As a former participant, I was personally enriched and tremendously benefited from my time spent at the Symposium. In particular, my prayer life has grown deeper as I meditate on the music we spent many hours preparing to sing. There were so many moments when I felt beautifully aware of the presence of God working in and through my voice and words. Even more, I developed a much more refined sense of Sacred Tradition and the beauty of Gregorian Chant. Our instructors were extremely knowledgeable and completely opened up the music for us. Furthermore, the workshops helped me to develop my skills as a choir leader. Some of the skills I developed even allowed me to adapt music for a particular feast that same summer.

All of this was possible for me to experience because of the generous donations of people who contributed to the Sacred Symposium. As a Seminarian, I do not have the means to pay for such an occasion as the Sacred Symposium so I am indebted to these generous donors for allowing me to be enriched by this wonderful event. Now that I have experienced it, however, I believe it is all the more necessary that I continue to develop my new found skills. One particular area that I can improve which the Symposium will help is the ability to make rehearsal videos and other reference materials for choir members. This will greatly improve rehearsals and help the less experienced singers progress faster.


From a 12-year-old girl:

Y NAME IS _______ and I am twelve years old. I started singing in the FSSP.la Choir when I was ten. Since then, I have come to learn a lot about Sacred Music, and I love singing it. St. Augustine said, “When you sing, you pray twice.” Sacred Music has thought me how profound prayer is. During Mass, when singing, one can feel the adoration and reverence that God deserves.

Last year, I had my first opportunity to participate in the 2016 Sacred Music Symposium, and what a wonderful experience it was!  I had the opportunity to meet such wonderful people like Dr. Calabrese and Dr. Buchholz and the many wonderful singers who attended the Symposium. I was inspired by their talent and knowledge of Sacred Music. There were techniques provided on how to improve your vocals, by warming up and helpful information for music directors.

This year the Symposium has returned and I am very much excited to participate once again. I hope to expand my knowledge in Sacred Music and its history as I have come to treasure it. Participating in this year’s Symposium I hope to learn more skills that will help me as a young choir member and, God willing, one day a music director or an organist for the Church. I am so very grateful to those who generously provide scholarships for this Sacred Music Symposium.

Our campaign will end on 25 March 2017, the feast of the Annunciation, which was also the birthday of St. Jean de Brébeuf (1593AD).  We are trying to raise $2,500.

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Pope Francis breaks Catholic traditions whenever he wants because he is free from disordered attachments. Our Church has indeed entered a new phase: with the advent of this first Jesuit pope, it is openly ruled by an individual rather than by the authority of Scripture alone or even its own dictates of tradition plus Scripture.”

— Fr. Thomas Rosica (31 July 2018)

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

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