Views from the Choir Loft

Musical Resources • Holy Thursday (EF)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 12, 2017

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

Everything must be done according to the RUBRICS of Pius XII 1955 Holy Week.

INTROIT • Sung during the procession by the men

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer)

KYRIE ELEISON

We will sing #6995.

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

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

We will sing Viadana #7709 “Falsobordone Gloria.”

GRADUAL • Sung by the men

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer)

CREDO

No Credo on Holy Thursday.

WASHING OF THE FEET

Antiphon III

PDF Score (Singer) • Video

CONCLUSION • WASHING OF THE FEET

PDF for Singers & Celebrant

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON

PDF Score (Singer)

OFFERTORY HYMN

#3316 • Lenten Hymn “Herzliebster Jesu”

SANCTUS & HOSANNA

Choir members should be learning #6962 and #6926.

We also know #3496.

AGNUS DEI

Today, the response each time is: miserere nobis.

We will sing #4347 by Du Fay.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON • Sung by the ladies

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer)

Extra Verses for soloist

COMMUNION POLYPHONY

Since it’s Holy Thursday, we’ll sing “Whitehall” Verbum Supernum (SATB).

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

PROCESSIONAL HYMN — Pange Lingua • starting pitch = E

#178 in Campion Missal

PDF Score (Singer) • YouTube

PRAYER WITH THE CHOIR (taken from the CAMPION HYMNAL) :

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).

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)

I’d much rather hear an organist play a simplified version correctly than listen to wrong notes. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #729 in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal. The hymn is “O Jesus Christ, Remember.” I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 1,900 times in a matter of hours—so there seems to be interest in such a project. For the record, this famous text is often married to AURELIA, as it is in the Brébeuf Hymnal. The lyrics come from the pen of Father Edward Caswall (d. 1878), an Oratorian priest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase

Father Adrian Porter, using the cracher dans la soupe example, did a praiseworthy job explaining the difference between ‘dynamic’ and ‘formal’ translation. This is something Monsignor Ronald Knox explained time and again—yet even now certain parties feign ignorance. I suppose there will always be people who pretend the only ‘valid’ translation of Mitigásti omnem iram tuam; avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ… would be “You mitigated all ire of you; you have averted from your indignation’s ire.” Those who would defend such a translation suffer from an unfortunate malady. One of my professors called it “cognate on the brain.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (2025)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski