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Views from the Choir Loft

Counter-Melodies • “Accompaniment of Psalm Tones”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 17, 2018

NE OF THE ABSOLUTE “best kept secrets” of Catholic music was revealed to me by Fr. Valentine Young, OFM. It is Albert Bloomfield’s astounding 465-page book, which allows any parish to sing Sunday Vespers. 1 Each Sunday, we have been using this magnificent book at Saint Vitus—our whole parish sings Vespers, and it is fantastic! I have started to accompany Vespers on the organ, with great success, using the NOH. We alternate between men and women. Once the congregation becomes familiar enough, I want to start adding counter-melodies to the psalmody.

Do you know what counter-melodies are?

Answer: Go to the 1:07 marker and you will hear something worth dying for:


The organist used to belong to a monastery in England—a Catholic monastery, not Anglican. I think he does a magnificent job, although the pause between each verse needs to be shortened; it is just a tiny bit too long. There should be a definite pause, but it should not be too lengthy. If you go back and read the “visitations” from the 15th and 16th centuries, 2 you will notice this is something monks and nuns complained about: when the pause in the middle of each psalm verse was prolonged too much. They also complained about too many dogs in church…I guess bringing dogs into church was common in those days.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   I hope Mr. Bloomfield creates another edition which includes starting pitches.

2   Each year, the visitation was when a bishop would visit the monastery or convent and speak privately with each member. That was an opportunity for the member to complain about whatever was bothersome—and some of these make for fascinating reading!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Vespers 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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
    The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent
    The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)
    Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

There is a lack of that kind of organization which favors mature judgment. Move on, move on, get it out. Schemata are multiplied without ever arriving at a considered form. The system of discussion is bad … Often the schemata arrive just before the discussions. Sometimes, and in important matters, such as the new anaphoras, the schema was distributed the evening before the discussion was to take place … Father Bugnini has only one interest: press ahead and finish.

— Cardinal Antonelli (Peritus during the Second Vatican Council)

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