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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Rare German Hymnal (879 pages)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 6, 2018

90119 Proofreaders ERE’S a dirty little secret about hymnal editors: some do nothing more than compile hymns from their youth plus additions from 2-3 major hymnals. We have taken a different approach in the creation of the St. Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal—for five years, we have collected 77,000 pages from rare Catholic hymnals, choosing the very best. We have also commissioned contemporary texts and melodies. Ours is unlike any hymn book produced in the last 100 years.

Most German hymnals we’ve come across contain words only—but this one has harmonies:

    * *  PDF Download • 1847 Hymnal (879 pages)

For reasons I don’t fully understand, the most beautiful hymn tunes we’ve discovered are usually English or German in origin.

Before long, proofreading will begin for the Brébeuf hymnal. 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.

What Dr. Hugo Riemann has to say about Fr. Lück’s Hymnal:

Gesang- und Gebetbuch für die Diözese Trier (1847)
“Hymnal and Prayer Book for the Diocese of Trier” (1847)

Lück, Stephan, b. Jan. 9, 1806, Linz-a-Rh., d. Nov. 4, 1883, Trèves, studied at Linz, Bonn, Trèves, took holy orders Sept. 20, 1828; up to 1831 he was chaplain at Kreuznach, up to 1835 parish priest at Waldalgesheim, up to 1849 professor of moral philosophy at the clerical college, Trèves, and, finally, became member of the cathedral chapter in that city. Lück distinguished himself in the restoration of Catholic Church music. He published; “Gesang und Gebetbuch für die Diöcese Trier” (1846); “Theoretisch-praktische Anleitung zur Herstellung eines würdigen Kirchengesanges” (1856); “Sammlung ausgezeichneter Kompositionen für die Kirche” (1859)—the 2nd edition (in four volumes) was published by M. Hermesdorff (1884) and H. Oberhoffer (1885).

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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —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

“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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