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Views from the Choir Loft

The Only Hymn Father Fortescue Ever Wrote

Jeff Ostrowski · November 24, 2018

HE BRÉBEUF HYMNAL is finally available for purchase, after five years of painstaking production. The hymnal came out a million times better than any of us could have hoped. We began the project with a “no garbage” policy; we would only accept excellent texts, excellent tunes, and excellent translations. We never broke this policy, and the resulting hymnal—932 pages long!—is absolutely breathtaking.

The Church’s oldest known Latin Eucharistic Hymn is “Sancti Venite,” from the 7th century. Father Adrian Fortescue wrote a translation in 1913…matching the original meter! The Brébeuf Hymnal contains multiple settings. Consider this contemporary melody by Peter Lejeune:


As far as I know, that is the only rhyming hymn Fortescue ever wrote.

THAT IS JUST ONE SETTING, OF COURSE. The Brébeuf Hymal contains several more, as well as additional translations. Moreover, the Brébeuf provides a literal translation—which it does for all the major Latin hymns. Ours is the only source containing literal English translations for certain hymns, such as Jam Desinant Suspiria and Rebus Creatis Nil Egens—how cool is that?

Those of us who participated in editorial work received “proof” copies, printed on loose-leaf paper. Here’s a sneak peek:

87052 - Fr Adrian Fortescue Hymn • SANCTI VENITE

By the way, you will notice that rehearsal videos are starting to appear.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Jean de Brebeuf Hymnal, Oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn, Rev Fr Adrian Fortescue Liturgy, Sancti Venite Eucharistic Last Updated: May 3, 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

    PDF • “For General Use Until Advent”
    If you conduct a volunteer choir, you might consider using this Simple Piece #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) which can be used during the rest of the liturgical season until Advent. It's based on the well known hymn tune: OLD HUNDREDTH. Rehearsal videos are available at #40691. A live recording of #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) by a volunteer choir is here (#40065).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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“It is most important that when the faithful assist at the sacred ceremonies … they should sing alternately with the clergy or the choir, as it is prescribed.”

— ‘Pope Pius XI, Divini Cultus (20 Dec 1928) §9’

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