Views from the Choir Loft

Brébeuf Hymn #517 • “Veni Redemptor Gentium”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 24, 2019

In the Brébeuf Hymnal, the famous Advent text “Veni Redemptor Gentium” is used with several melodies. Here is an example, recorded by a young lady in 8th grade:

You can hear the individual tracks if you visit the Brébeuf website and scroll to #517.

“O Heiland Reiss” is a famous Advent melody—and the Brébeuf Hymnal uses that melody with several different texts, including an English translation of “O Heiland Reiss” by an FSSP priest. Catholic hymnals often use this melody with various texts, and here are several examples:

* * O Heiland reiss die Himmel auf • Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959)

* * O Heiland reiss die Himmel auf • Catholic Hymnal (1957)

* * O Heiland reiss die Himmel auf • Catholic Hymnal (1936)

* * O Heiland reiss die Himmel auf • Catholic Hymnal (1910)

* * O Heiland reiss die Himmel auf • Catholic Hymnal (1885)

* * O Heiland reiss die Himmel auf • Catholic Hymnal (1989)

(“O Heiland Reiss” is the tune you hear in the video above.)

Over the next few months, we hope to explain why such flexibility—of texts and tunes—is crucial.

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

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).

List • Responses by each bishop!

This incredible website gives each bishop’s response to the recent MOTU PROPRIO Traditionis Custodes, a decree by Pope Francis which seeks to reduce the number of celebrations of the “Extraordinary Form” (Traditional Latin Mass): traditioniscustodes.info

—Jeff Ostrowski

Tomorrow is Sunday…

When you were in school, you would have gotten in trouble if you wrote the Roman Numeral “9” as viiii. You were supposed to write: IX. But look how an ancient manuscript writes “9” as a Roman Numeral. That’s the Introit Ecce Deus for tomorrow’s feast in the Extraordinary Form: The 9th Sunday after Pentecost.

—Jeff Ostrowski

24 July 2021 • “Two Teams”

Anyone familiar with the so-called “Traditionalist Catholic” movement knows that (like every other group) it contains some bad apples. Anyone can self-identify as a “Traditionalist Catholic”—even those who are mentally ill, those who beat their wives, and even folks who are emotionally disturbed. All of us know TLM Catholics who are so arrogant they make Narcissus look like the most humble guy who ever lived. However, I believe Traditionis Custodes will exacerbate the situation. Under B16, we were “all on the same team.” But this new decree by Pope Francis makes it seem like there are two opposing “teams” in the Church.

—Jeff Ostrowski