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Views from the Choir Loft

Horrible Hymn Rhymes

Jeff Ostrowski · May 25, 2017

AM CURRENTLY ASSISTING with an awesome Roman Catholic hymnal project—The Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal—and excessively predictable rhyme has turned out to be a very common cause for the exclusion of certain hymn texts. If I can easily guess which rhyme a poet is about to use, he’s doing something wrong. Monsignor Francis P. Schmitt agrees with me, and expresses my complaint very well:

5141 MOAN


The Memorare is a beautiful prayer:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that
anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help,
or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my mother;
to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

St. Gregory Hymnal (which in my humble opinion is nowhere near as excellent as Knox’s New Westminster Hymnal) translated the red part as:

Remember, Holy Mary,
‘Twas never heard or known,
That any one who sought thee,
Or made to thee his moan…

It does technically make sense, but is neither elegant nor inspired.

I will have much more to say about hymns in the coming months. Stay tuned!

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 Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
7 June 2022 • FEEDBACK

From Chelan, Washington: “CCWatershed is a God-sent resource that I can’t function without! Such great work by the team to bring beauty back to our liturgy!” From Gainesville, Florida: “I am so appreciative of the work, of my brothers and sisters in music!” From Troutman, North Carolina: “Keep up the excellent work in service of the Liturgy!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“To me nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Masses for ever, and not be tired.”

— John Henry Cardinal Newman (1848)

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