Views from the Choir Loft

2nd Sunday of Advent (2nd of December)

Jeff Ostrowski · December 3, 2017

These musical programs are for FSSP.la, the new FSSP Apostolate in Los Angeles. Bring your family to the High Mass (SAINT VICTOR, 8634 Holloway Dr, West Hollywood, CA 90069) at 7:00pm every Sunday.

PROCESSIONAL

#798 Savior Of The Nations Come

ASPERGES

PDF Score (Singer) • Practice Audio (Singer) • Organist

We also add a polyphonic section, which is #4550.

INTROIT • Sometimes the ladies sing this.

This version

KYRIE ELEISON

We are singing #5294 (KYRIE “Iste Sanctus” by Guerrero)

We may learn a new Kyrie for Christmas.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

Advent has no Gloria, but for Christmas Midnight we will sing: #5612.

GRADUAL & ALLELUIA

Psalm Tone Version

We will pair it with ALLELUIA by Fr. Cristóbal de Morales: #3982.

CREDO IV • Alternatim

We may sing #5984 by Machaut.

We also sometimes sing this version: #3445. But sometimes we sing in unison.

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON

PDF Score (Singer)

OFFERTORY OTHER

#796 Veni, Veni Emmanuel from Campion Hymnal.

SANCTUS & HOSANNA

We will sing the Palestrina #6962 (“Te saeculorum”)

Sometimes we sing #3496 paired with #2999.

Sometimes we sing Sanctus from Mass XIII. The complete “Kyriale” (Ordinarium Missae) can be found at St. Antoine Daniel.

BENEDICTUS & HOSANNA

We will sing #6926 Palestrina (Te Sæculorum).

AGNUS DEI

We will sing #7554.

Before long we will begin work on a setting by Giovanni Gabrieli.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON

This will be sung by chosen soloists.

COMMUNION OTHER

Guerrero Cónditor Alme Síderum is #7231.

RECESSIONAL HYMN • #800 On Jordan’s Bank The Baptist’s Cry

From the Campion Hymnal.

CHOIR PRAYER (from CAMPION HYMNAL) happens after attendance is taken:

What Fr. Ragueneau after learning about the martyrdom of St. Charles Garnier:

3817 St Charles Garnier

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

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).

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Luis Martínez Must Go!

Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

—Jeff Ostrowski

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