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Views from the Choir Loft

Seven Rules for Church Music (Sir Richard Terry)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 26, 2017

“They must be taught that it is folly to attempt music beyond their powers, and that it is a mistake to despise all but difficult compositions. Some of the sublimest music ever written is simplicity itself. I need only mention Palestrina’s Improperia and Mozart’s Ave verum as instances of this.”
—Sir Richard Runciman Terry (d. 1938)


NE OF THE THINGS I’ve learned about blogging is…it’s much harder than I realized. I used to read articles and blogs, and if I came across one sentence I disagreed with, I’d condemn the author as not worth reading. If I came across one mistake, I’d consign that website to oblivion. If I noticed one typo or formatting error, I’d basically assume the editor is a worthless idiot. It turns out it’s a lot easier to criticize than create something positive!

More than a decade ago, I discovered Terry’s book on Catholic Church Music. At that time, I decided it was “okay,” but didn’t agree with every single statement. I foolishly felt I could do better. Well, I revisited it a few days ago only to realize that it’s truly amazing!

* *  PDF Download • “Catholic Church Music” (218 Pages)

Here are his Seven Rules for Church Music:

099 Terry

The CMAA is to be commended for making Terry’s book available.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Sir Richard Runciman Terry Last Updated: September 4, 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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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“So, as in delirium a man talks in a long-forgotten tongue, now—when her heart is rent—the Catholic Church drops twenty centuries without an effort, and speaks as she spoke underground in Rome, and in Paul’s hired house, and in Crete and Alexandria and Jerusalem.”

— A non-Catholic describing the “Hagios O Theos” of Good Friday in 1906

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