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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • A Eucharistic Piece My Choir Loves

Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2019

80854 Brébeuf Hymnal ODAY, I am going to make news. For months, I have been assisting in proofreading the Choral Supplement to the Brébeuf Hymnal. Folks, a choirmaster’s life will never be the same once this book is released. It’s about 1,100 pages, and totally magnificent: unlike anything I’ve ever seen. We all know Catholic music is a mess right now, but this publication—in my humble opinion—will go a long way towards fixing things!

What Is The Purpose?

Put simply, the Choral Supplement provides SATB settings for the hymns in the Brébeuf Pew edition. For many reasons, we encourage choirmasters to emphasize “German style” in parishes: Unison + Organ. But there can be certain moments when SATB singing is desired, and that’s why this book was created. 1

Here is a sample score:

    * *  PDF Download • EARLY RELEASE SAMPLE (Choral Supplement)

My choirs love to sing “Sancti Venite” from the Brébeuf Hymnal. We usually sing Unison + Organ, alternating between ladies and men—and it works extremely well. But the 9:00am choir really wanted to try SATB. A member of the Tenor section sent me an iPhone recording:

When you listen, please remember that this choir is 100% volunteers, and very few members read music. The more we sing it, the better it will get.


You can rehearse each individual part at the Brébeuf website. I wish more people would go explore the rehearsal videos; but nobody ever does. I’m not sure why this is…they are so much fun!  Anyhow, the JP2 Institute has requested that no more rehearsal videos be posted until the Choral Supplement has been released—so be prepared for a whole bunch more videos soon!

When Is The Release Date?

The Choral Supplement is expected to be released on 8 December 2019, a date which had special meaning for Saint Jean de Brébeuf and his companions. One reason it took so long is the beautiful formatting. Do you see the difference between “standard” formatting by a program such as Sibelius?

80858-why-we-format-yellow-sm


This book is a supplement.

In other words, the Choral Supplement only makes sense used in conjunction with the Pew Edition. All the literal translations, color pages, footnotes, etc. are found in the Pew Edition.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   To say nothing of descants, alternatim between genders, organ interludes, and so on.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn, 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “21 September 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
    It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“The authority of the Pope is not unlimited. It is at the service of Sacred Tradition. Still less is any kind of general ‘freedom’ of manufacture, degenerating into spontaneous improvisation, compatible with the essence of faith and liturgy. The greatness of the liturgy depends—we shall have to repeat this frequently—on its lack of spontaneity.”

— Josef Cardinal Ratzinger (2000)

Recent Posts

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  • PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies

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