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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Rare German Hymnal

Jeff Ostrowski · October 17, 2017

4195 In Dulci Jubilo HE Brébeuf Hymnal project is really coming along. I have been privileged (for several years) to serve on a committee creating this book. One of the members is a veritable encyclopedia of hymnody, and it’s difficult to find a tune, text, or author he doesn’t know. The amount of material we have unearthed is overwhelming, and I hope someday 100% can be released online.

We have commissioned a remarkable amount of new texts and melodies for this book. However, we will also include historic Catholic tunes that have been (unfairly) neglected—and the following book by Dreves has several nice ones.

For the first time in history we have placed this celebrated German hymnal online:

    * *  PDF Download •   O CHRIST HIE MERK!   (Rev. Dreves, 1885)

Fr. Robert Skeris, perhaps the world’s preëminent scholar of hymnody, wrote about Dreves:

In order to make available in practise some of the results of his research work, DREVES published two small books which were important and influential in the continuing discussion: Ein Wort zur Gesangbuchfrage and “O Christ hie merk!” DREVES intended his “Wort” as “building material” for an eventual German national hymnal. If the “Wort zur Gesangbuchfrage” is more theoretical, then “O Christ hie merk!” is completely practical: a hymnal with 150 tunes illustrating the principles set forth in the “Wort.” WITT identified himself with this “word” by saying that it expressed “the principles of the Caecilian Society on this point.”

Fr. Guido Maria Dreves was a Jesuit priest who died in 1909. He’s responsible for the definitive work (55 volumes) on Latin hymnody: Analecta Hymnica Medii Aevi.

DESCRIPTION OF THIS BOOK :

Dreves, Guido Maria S. J. — “O Christ hie merk!”
Ein Gesangbüchlein geistlicher Lieder. Freiburg im Breisgau.
Herdersche Verlagshandlung. 1885.
Mit Approbation des hochw. Herrn Erzbischofs von Freiburg.

S. Halbleinen-Bibliothekseinband mit Leinenecken und marm. Deckeln. Handbeschr. Rückenschild oben sowie Bibliotheksschild auf V-Deckel, gestempelt. Kanten und Deckel berieben, sonst gut. Innen stärker gebräunt, die ersten Seiten mit zahlreichen Bibliotheksstempeln und handschr. kleinen Eintragungen. Nach S. X im Gelenk angebrochen. Vorsätze sowie Innendeckel und erste bzw. letzte S. gilbtleckig, sonst sauber.

Zweck dieses Gesangbüchleins ist einzig und allein, die echt christlichen, echt volkstümlichen Lieder, wie sie von Anfang bei unseren Vorfahren in Brauch und Übung gewesen, dann aber in glaubensschwacher, nüchterner Zeit über Bord geworfen oder bis zu Unkenntlichkeit entstellt wurden, unserem Volke zurückzugeben, und zwar in einer Gestalt, die sich möglichst innig der überlieferten Urform des Liedes anschlösse (…) Aus dem Vorwort.

Mit zahlreichen Notenbeigaben.

DREVES. Guido Maria, Jesuit, Hymnologe und geistlicher Lyriker, * 27.10. 1854 in Hamburg als Sohn des Notars und Dichters Leberecht D., † 1.6. 1909 in Mitwitz bei Kronach (Ober.franken).

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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
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

Random Quote

“Come now,” they said, “Thou who wouldst destroy the temple and build it up in three days, rescue Thyself; come down from that cross, if Thou art the Son of God.”

— Gospel of St. Matthew 27:42

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