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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Hymns Ancient & Modern”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 7, 2017

OOGLE HAS UPLOADED a complete copy of HYMNS ANCIENT & MODERN, and I’ve included the PDF (41MB) toward the end of this article. HYMNS A&M is a famous Anglican hymn book containing many praiseworthy melodies and texts later adopted by Catholic hymnals. Number 145, for example, is an English translation of “Rex Sempiterne Coelitum,” a Roman Catholic hymn. (Orby Shipley has reminded us that the majority of Anglican hymns are ancient Catholic hymns translated into English.) I’m part of a team creating the St. Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal, and the marvelous hymns we’ve uncovered along the way are bewildering—to say nothing of the many contemporary works we’ve commissioned.

We love exploring hymns sung in two parts, for choirs who struggle with SATB. 1 Here is a glorious example:

    * *  PDF Download • “Rex Sempiterne” (English & Latin)

REHEARSAL VIDEOS for each individual voice await you at #4736.

That link (#4736) also contains a version totally in English—in case your choir is scared of seeing Latin!

EARLIER, I MADE REFERENCE to Number 145 in HYMNS A&M, which uses a translation by the compilers beginning with “O Christ the Heaven’s Eternal King.” There’s nothing wrong with that translation; indeed, about fifteen other translations might have been chosen. My choice, however—as shown above—was the excellent English translation by Fr. Fitzpatrick. Make sure to download Google’s scan of HYMNS A&M (1904 edition). The 1972 edition is also worth obtaining, but isn’t available online.

The hymn above (“Rex Sempiterne”) is actually a Renaissance revision of the ancient hymn “Rex Aeterne Domine.” This hymn can be sung at any time during the liturgical year. Indeed, we have made a special effort in the St. Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal to include pieces suitable for use throughout the year. We believe many hymnals fall short in this area, yet provide abundant choices for Advent, Christmas, Easter, and so on. Those hymnals would be adequate if church musicians only worked on major feasts—but the reality is, choirmasters must choose music throughout the entire year.

Consider two literal translations of this hymn:

    * *  PDF Download • REX AETERNE DOMINE (Two Literal Translations)

Do you know a more beautiful hymn? I do not.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Unfortunately, many choirs—both Catholic and Protestant—feel they are “good enough” to sing SATB, but the results are unsatisfactory. SATB singing is supposed to sound good. If it’s not sounding good, the choirmaster should switch back to unison or 2-voice.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 14 September (Holy Cross)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for 14 September 2025, which is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

In a meeting that took place on 23 July 2014, Pope Benedict told Father Josef Bisig, FSSP, that “Pope Saint John Paul II had the firm intention to personally bestow the episcopal consecration on an SSPX priest on 15 August 1988.”

— Libre entretien sur l’été 1988, Sedes Sapientiæ, issue 160, summer 2022

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  • Do You Recognize This Hymn? Do You Like It?
  • Charlie Kirk’s Fascination with Traditional Catholic Liturgy

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