Views from the Choir Loft

Musical Resources • 4th Sunday of Lent (“Laetare”)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2017

These musical programs are for FSSP.la, the new FSSP Apostolate in Los Angeles.

PROCESSIONAL

Same as last week: O Sol Salutis (SATB).

To learn the notes you can use #7128 in spite of the fact that words are different.

ASPERGES

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer) • Organist

We also add a polyphonic section, which is #4550.

INTROIT • Sung by the men.

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer)

KYRIE ELEISON

We will sing #6995 (hopefully with the Christe section added).

We also know a KYRIE with three sections: #3347, #3661, and #7332.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

The GLORIA is not said from Septuagesima Sunday until Easter,
except on Maundy Thursday, Holy Saturday, and Feast days.

GRADUAL & ALLELUIA

There is no Alleluia until Easter arrives.

As always, the verses are found in our Goupil Gradual books.

CREDO III • Alternatim

We will do Credo III from the Campion hymnals. With accompaniment.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON

PDF Score (Singer)

OFFERTORY OTHER

#4063 “Te Saeculorum” (RAPHAËL MERCIER)

SANCTUS & HOSANNA

Choir members should be learning #6962 and #6926.

We also know #3496.

AGNUS DEI

We will sing #4347 by Du Fay.

COMMUNION FIRST

#3316 • Lenten Hymn “Herzliebster Jesu”

COMMUNION ADDITIONAL

#4428 • “Jesu Dulcis Memoria” (attr. VICTORIA)

COMMUNION ANTIPHON • Sung by the ladies.

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer)

Accompanied from the “color” markings posted on Saint Goupil, printed with a color printer.

RECESSIONAL HYMN • #837 O Sacred Head, Surrounded

From the Campion Hymnal.

CHOIR PRAYER (from CAMPION HYMNAL) happens after attendance is taken:

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

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