Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Anglican Hymnal (1,151 pages)

Jeff Ostrowski · January 8, 2018

Here’s the direct URL link.

CURRENTLY SERVE on an international committee working on a collection called the St. Brébeuf Hymnal. We have assembled something like 200,000 pages of old hymnals, and naturally we focus mainly on the Catholic hymnals. We’ve also encountered some fantastic non-Catholic hymnals.

You’ve probably never seen these 1,151 pages:

* * PDF Download • Anglican Hymnal (57.1MB)

Many pieces in this Anglican collection are actually translations of Roman Catholic hymns, such as Ave Maris Stella, Audi Benigne Conditor, Ad Regias Agni Dapes, etc. (Readers will mainly be interested in sections 3 and 4.)

To demonstrate how marvelous this book is, I’ve compiled the complete indices:

* * PDF • COMPLETE INDEX [all 4 volumes]

When I was in college, we analyzed 4-5 different versions of Hassler’s “O Sacred Head Surrounded” harmonized by J.S. Bach—and I really wish I’d saved them because they were beautiful. Here’s an interesting harmonization found in the 1907 hymnal:

90792 O SACRED HEAD

They also have many “Englished” settings Propers:

Those interested in proofreading the St. Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal should email the committee. My understanding is they’re searching for proofreaders. Make sure the word “proofreader” is in your email subject line.

Full title of book:

THE NEW OFFICE HYMN BOOK

PARTS I. AND II.

Part I.

CONSISTING OF
INTROITS FOR THE SUNDAYS AND FESTIVALS
WITH THE GRADUALS AND ALLELUIAS,
AND SOME SEQUENCES.

Part II.

CONSISTING OF
OFFICE HYMNS, CHIEFLY FROM THE ROMAN
AND SARUM BREVIARIES, TOGETHER
WITH THE PROPER MELODIES.

THE NEW OFFICE HYMN BOOK

PARTS III. and IV.

CONSISTING OF
HYMNS NEW AND OLD, SACRED SONGS,
CAROLS AND LITANIES

THE WORDS SELECTED AND EDITED BY
Rev. J. F. W. BULLOCK, M.A.
Rector of Radwinter; Editor of “Daily Lections.”

THE MUSIC SELECTED AND ARRANGED BY
Rev. C. J. RIDSDALE, B.A.
Vicar of S. Peter’s, Folkestone;
Editor of the Music of “The Children’s Service Book.”

(London: Novello and Company, 1907)

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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).

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (Immaculate Concep.)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 8 December 2025, the feast of OUR LADY’S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. In Latin, the title of this feast is: In Conceptione Immaculata Beatae Mariae Virginis. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed