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Views from the Choir Loft

Fighting With Choir Members?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 14, 2017

E ARE in the midst of a GoFundMe campaign which is going very well, but appears to be “stalled” at the 40% marker. Please consider contributing, to help musicians who can’t afford to attend the Symposium. If every Watershed Facebook follower gave 9¢ each ($0.09) we’d meet our goal.

A few clips from last year’s symposium:

This excerpt talks about how choirmasters should never waste rehearsal time fighting with choir members about pronunciation. Sometimes words are pronounced differently depending on region. “Respiratory,” for example, sounds like a different word when the English pronounce it. For the record, there are even Latin words whose tonic accent experts disagree upon, such as LITURGIAM and CANONE. (Words coming into Latin from Greek sometimes—but not always—carry over the accentuation.)


An excerpt from a section dealing with “contrafactum,” something extremely valuable for choirs just starting out:


An excerpt from a section dealing with not losing your temper:


For the record, physical fights sometimes happened in the Papal Chapel, as you can read if you click here and scroll down.

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”
    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Church officials frequently asked Tomás Luis de Victoria for his opinion on cathedral appointments because of his fame and knowledge. He was faithful to his position as convent organist even after his professional debut as an organist, and never accepted any extra pay for being a chapelmaster. Held in great esteem, his contract allowed him frequent travel away from the convent, and he attended Palestrina’s funeral (in Rome) in 1594.”

— ‘Dr. Robert Stevenson, 1961 (mod.)’

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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.