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Views from the Choir Loft

Brébeuf Harmony Edition • “Splendid Beyond Words”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 9, 2019

UR DIVINE MASTER, Jesus Christ, said: “A woman in labor hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but the child being born, she remembers no more the anguish…”  Nobody has been more eager for the Brébeuf Harmony Edition to appear than me; and I’ve been waiting five long years. But I was told today it is supposed to be available for purchase very soon—that is to say, within a few days.

Folks, I have seen a copy:   IT.  IS.  FABULOUS.

I sat down at the organ and could not stop playing through it. I just couldn’t stop! I played through each hymn, singing all the verses to myself. The harmonizations are phenomenal. Since 2013, I’ve looked at probably 20,000 pages of hymn harmonizations—but I’ve never seen anything like the Brébeuf harmonies. They are simple, yet elegant. More importantly, they are within the range of singers! To be honest, there were some tunes I wasn’t 100% convinced of before; but when I hear them with the Brébeuf harmonies, I am blown away…and now I would die for these melodies. Yes, folks, they are that epic.

AS SOMEONE WHO CONTRIBUTED SEVERAL ORIGINAL HARMONIES TO THIS BOOK, I WILL BE NOTIFIED THE INSTANT IT BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW IMMEDIATELY.

Here is a sample:

    * *  PDF Download • Unauthorized Preview

There is a harmony for every single hymn! …and the Brébeuf Hymnal is 932 pages!

The harmony edition doesn’t make any sense without the Pew Hymnal. It is complementary. However, you will be hearing a lot more about this—and you will love it. It was designed to work with parishes; it is “practical” to a fault. More later.

84999-Brebeuf-Accompaniment-C 84999-Brebeuf-Accompaniment-B 84999-Brebeuf-Accompaniment-A


I’m told they still need a few proofreaders to look over 1-2 sections one final time. If you’re interested, send an email to: liturgical.institute@gmail.com.

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

Filed Under: Articles 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

    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

Random Quote

“Every experienced choirmaster’s work is founded on the following three axioms: (1) Few boys have a really good natural voice; (2) No boy is able to control his voice and produce good tone without training; (3) Most boys have a good ear, and considerable imitative capacity. It is on the last of these axioms that the choirmaster must begin his work.”

— Sir Richard Runciman Terry (1912)

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