Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • SATB “Sanctus” by Orlando de Lassus

Jeff Ostrowski · October 7, 2019

HERE ARE APPROXIMATELY sixty-two (62) people who sing in the parish choirs I direct, and I have found that rehearsal videos can save time during rehearsals. Very soon we will release a new (updated) website, and we have some incredible contributors lined up—they will begin blogging when the new site launches. One of them grew up singing in England, and has some amazing stories to tell about the way singers in England can sight-read polyphony. I have no idea what he would think of the concept of “rehearsal videos,” but I suppose we will find out soon enough…

We have completed part 1 of a Sanctus by Orlando de Lassus (considered by some to be the greatest composer of all time). When part 2 is finished, we’ll release that, as well.

* * PDF Download • Sanctus & Hosanna (Part 1 of 2)

REHEARSAL VIDEOS for each individual voice and PDF score await you at #81362.

Fun Fact: It turns out that iPad and iPhone can utilize the “search” function on a website. Just start typing something in the actual URL searchbar—e.g. try “81362”—and then something will appear upon which you can select “ON THIS PAGE.” Using the search bar saves time!

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).

Surprising Popularity!

One of our most popular downloads has proven to be the organ accompaniment to “The Monastery Hymnal” (131 pages). This book was compiled, arranged, and edited by Achille P. Bragers, who studied at the Lemmensinstituut (Belgium) about thirty years before that school produced the NOH. Bragers might be considered an example of Belgium “Stile Antico” whereas Flor Peeters and Jules Van Nuffel represented Belgium “Prima Pratica.” You can download the hymnal by Bragers at this link.

—Jeff Ostrowski

15 February 2021 • To Capitalize…?

In the Introit for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost, there is a question regarding whether to capitalize the word “christi.” The Vulgata does not, because Psalm 27 is not specifically referring to Our Lord, but rather to God’s “anointed one.” However, Missals tend to capitalize it, such as the official 1962 Missal and also a book from 1777 called Missel de Paris. Something tells me Monsignor Knox would not capitalize it.

—Jeff Ostrowski

15 February 2021 • “Sung vs. Spoken”

We have spoken quite a bit about “sung vs. spoken” antiphons. We have also noted that the texts of the Graduale Romanum sometimes don’t match the Missal texts (in the Extraordinary Form) because the Mass Propers are older than Saint Jerome’s Vulgate, and sometimes came from the ITALA versions of Sacred Scripture. On occasion, the Missal itself doesn’t match the Vulgate—cf. the Introit “Esto Mihi.” The Vulgate has: “Esto mihi in Deum protectórem et in domum refúgii…” but the Missal and Graduale Romanum use “Esto mihi in Deum protectórem et in locum refúgii…” The 1970s “spoken propers” use the traditional version, as you can see.

—Jeff Ostrowski