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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

Agnus Dei • “Missa Mille Regretz” by Fr. Cristóbal de Morales (d. 1553)

Jeff Ostrowski · October 3, 2017

OOKING AT MUSIC on the page is one thing, but hearing it real life is a different matter. I’ll never forget hearing Dr. Alfred Calabrese run through Guerrero’s KYRIE on the opening day of our very first Sacred Music Symposium. As a composer, I was in awe of what Guerrero had done: his grasp of musical DENSITY was life-changing. (No recording can capture this.)

These composers were aware of the overtone series, which is sometimes described as a series of “imaginary notes.” Let us consider an AGNUS DEI by Guerrero’s teacher, Fr. Cristóbal de Morales. The following recording—which I consider to be quite beautiful, especially for those familiar with this piece—was created by members of the volunteer choir I direct here at FSSP.la.

In measure 38, Tenors combine into unison on C—do you hear an imaginary girl’s voice singing a high G? (That’s a strong overtone.) Listen to the 1:31 marker:

REHEARSAL VIDEOS for each individual voice await you at #4297.
The full PDF score can be downloaded there.

Please download this Mp3, and listen to it carefully a billion times in your car:

    * *  Mp3 • AGNUS DEI (Part 3) from Missa Mille Regretz

    * *  PDF • AGNUS DEI (Part 3) from Missa Mille Regretz

…what a gorgeous piece!

THE FRATERNITY OF SAINT PETER in Los Angeles released a Promo Video celebrating the 10-year anniversary of “Summorum Pontificum.” The recording above was chosen as the soundtrack, and here’s a translation for the Chanson which Fr. Morales used as his melodic basis for Missa Mille Regretz:

Modern French:
Mille regrets de vous abandonner
et d’être éloigné de votre
visage amoureux.
J’ai si grand deuil
et peine douloureuse
qu’on me verra vite mourir.

English Translation:
A thousand regrets at deserting you
and leaving behind your loving face,
I feel so much sadness
and such painful distress,
that it seems to me my days
will soon dwindle away.

It’s fitting, in a way, because many priests I’ve asked about the 1960s reforms have expressed regret. When they opened up the new Missal for the first time (they explain) they saw that much of the beautiful symbolism and holy gestures of the ancient liturgy had been eliminated. As one bishop put it, “I knew it was gone for good.” Nobody at that time could have even hoped for something like “Summorum Pontificum.”

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
    My pastor asked me to write brief 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 most recent article speaks about the recent announcement by Pope Leo XIV, which does have an impact on church musicians. Scheduled for publication on 2025 08 10th, it’s called: “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
    All the chants for 3 August 2025—which is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)—have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (from the book of Wisdom) is stunning. That feast website has been called “the best kept secret of Church music.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Corn” From Heaven?
    The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scriptures was produced by Roman Catholics in England and bears a 15 March 1958 IMPRIMATUR from the Archbishop of Westminster. Its IMPRIMI POTEST was given by the director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Sometimes words chosen by translators sound funny to American ears. For instance, one of our Responsorial Psalms has as its refrain: “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.” But the British version has “The Lord gave them corn from heaven.” Feel free to examine this with your own eyes. (It comes from Psalm 77.)
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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

Random Quote

“If the right is given to African tribes to include their pagan traditions in the liturgy, I think the same should also be given to the rite of a thousand year-old Christian Church, based on a much older Roman tradition.”

— Professor László Dobszay

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