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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Pope Pius XII Hymnal” (1959)

Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2018

N LATE OCTOBER, the Brébeuf Hymnal was officially sent off to the printer. Within a few weeks, it should be available for purchase. Folks, I’ve got to tell you: this book is a game changer. The world of Catholic music will never be the same after its release. It is a million times more powerful than any of us could have dreamt. Please stay tuned…I have much more to share.

I was recently sent a fascinating hymnal from 1959:

* *  PDF Download • PIUS XII HYMNAL (1959)

The 1959 editors placed a serious emphasis on excellent hymn tunes, similar to what we did in the Brébeuf hymnal. However, they were more bold and daring than the Brébeuf committee. They mixed Advent and Lent tunes with “general” texts in ways that—in my humble opinion—went too far.

In the Brébeuf hymnal, we carefully emphasized the very best, most traditional, most Catholic melodies. We placed them strategically, so they can be used at various times throughout the liturgical year. We realize too many Catholic congregations don’t have in their repertory an abundance of excellent tunes. They must be taught—but this is no easy thing. When it comes to the strategic repetition of hymn tunes, no effort was spared by the editors of the Brébeuf hymnal.

Were you shocked to see the Pius XII Hymnal assigning vernacular hymns to different parts of the Mass? This was common at Low Mass in those days. Indeed, I own numerous Catholic hymnals (from the 1940s and 1950s) which promote the same exact same thing. 1

“During a Low Mass there is usually time for four hymns—one from the beginning of Mass up to or through the Gospel, but certainly to be finished by or before the end of the Gospel, so as not to interfere with or delay the making of announcements or the preaching of the sermon. A second hymn can be started at the Credo; another after the Elevation, and the last one during Communion, to end with the last Gospel for the prayers after Mass.”
—Caecilia Magazine of Catholic Church Music, 64:4 (1937)


This was not just done in America. Look at this example from a 1913 hymnal by Fr. Gregory Ould, OSB.


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Customs such as this helped pave the way for the liturgical reforms of the 1960s. Vatican II wanted to have Catholics “sing the Mass” instead of “singing at Mass.” Unfortunately, things got even worse after the Council—and we’ve reached a point where nobody has a clue what it means to “sing the Mass.” There is much work to be done…

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Affordable Hymnal for Catholic Parishes, Jean de Brebeuf Hymnal, Low Mass Vernacular Hymns, Pope Pius XII Hymnal 1959 Last Updated: November 2, 2021

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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

    26 January 2023 • FEEDBACK
    “Jeff, I wanted to personally thank you for your spiritual witness at the Symposium & often blogs that you write too. Praying that prayer in the mornings My God, my Father and my all (by Cardinal Merry Del Val), mentioning saints’ stories of Brébeuf, Jogues, John Vianney, monks who fought in WWII, their hard work in spite of terrible conditions, their relentless zeal for the faith, their genuine love for the laypeople they served, etc. Overall though—more than anything concrete I can point to that you did or said—it was your demeanor at the Symposium. I could tell you really absolutely love and believe the Catholic Faith. You don’t get that everywhere, even in Church circles. And your humility is what then makes that shine even brighter. It is super inspiring! God is working through you probably way more than you know.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Symposium Draft Schedule Released!
    Those who head over to the Symposium Website will notice the tentative schedule for 2023 has been released. This is all very exciting! Very soon, we will begin accepting applications, so please make sure you have subscribed to our mailing list. If you are subscribed, that means you'll hear announcements before anyone else. (It’s incredibly easy to subscribe to our mailing list; just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.)
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Good Friday Polyphony by L. Senfl
    The editor of the Sacred Music Magazine recently made available to the public this splendid article by our own Charles Weaver. It includes an edition of polyphony for the GOOD FRIDAY “Reproaches.” Renaissance composers often set the various offices of Holy Week; e.g. readers will probably be familiar with the beautiful TENEBRAE setting by Father Tomás Luis de Victoria (d. 1611). From what I can tell, Ludwig Senfl (d. 1543) was originally a Catholic priest, but eventually was seduced by Luther and ended up abandoning the sacred priesthood.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“If the right is given to African tribes to include their pagan traditions in the liturgy, I think the same should also be given to the rite of a thousand year-old Christian Church, based on a much older Roman tradition.”

— Professor László Dobszay

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