Views from the Choir Loft

This Saturday! • Solemn Pontifcal Mass in D.C.

Andrew Leung · April 26, 2018

WAS INFORMED THAT a Solemn Pontifical Mass will be offered in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception this coming Saturday, April 28, at 1pm.

The Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample, Archbishop of Portland, Oregon, will be celebrating the Mass in the Extraordinary Form; and he will be assisted by famous clergy from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. The Mass is being celebrated in honor of the 10th anniversary of Summorum Pontificum.

* * PDF Download • FULL DETAILS

If you are living near Washington DC, this is something you do not want to miss! The music—including Victoria’s Missa Salve Regina and other Renaissance motets—will be provided by the Basilica Choir; and the Propers will be sung by the schola of St. Mary Mother of God Parish at the nearby Chinatown.

The Mass will be broadcast by EWTN.

AM ALSO AWARE OF another Solemn High Mass that happened about two weeks ago on Low Sunday (Sunday within the Octave of Easter or Divine Mercy Sunday). The Mass was held at the National Shrine of St. Alphonsus of Liguori in Baltimore, MD, which was recently entrusted to the Fraternity. The historic Shrine was founded in 1845 and exists within the Diocese of Baltimore, the oldest Catholic Diocese in the United States.

Pictures of the Mass can be found on An American Photographer. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Joel Kiefer, FSSP, the pastor of the Shrine. Fr. Kiefer was the associate pastor at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Atlanta, GA, prior his current assignment. I had the privilege to meet him when I was the director of music at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Conyers, GA. I would sing with the schola at St. Francis de Sales occasionally on special feast days during weekdays.

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

About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major

Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Latin Liturgy Association

We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”

My pastor requested that I write short 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 latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)

The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams

Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.

—Jeff Ostrowski