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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Video • “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 24, 2019

E HAVE OFTEN STRESSED something important about the Brébeuf hymnal. Just because it is a fully Catholic book, that doesn’t mean every single Protestant hymn was excluded. A good example is Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. Many other Catholic hymnals have included this beautiful hymn for a long time. For example, “Worship IV Hymnal” (GIA, 2011) places it for #414. The “Saint Michael Hymnal” (2011 edition) places it for #558. The “New Catholic Hymnal” (Patrick Russill, 1998)—published by the London Oratory—places it for #21. The “Adoremus Hymnal” (Ignatius Press, 2011) places it for #325.

In the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal, it is #663:

You can hear the individual tracks if you visit the Brébeuf website and scroll to #663.

Sometimes, older Catholic hymnals did funny things with this melody.

Look at this example from the “Notre Dame Hymnal Book” (Birtchnell & Brown, 1905):

80523 MENDELSSOHN 1905 NOTRE DAME HYMN BOOK (Birtchnell & Brown)


Consider, too, this example from “Saint Mark’s Roman Catholic Hymnal” (1910):

80522 MENDELSSOHN 1910 HARK THE HERALD - Ad Regias - 1910 Saint Mark Hymnal copy


That’s the text for Ad Regias Agni Dapes !!!

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 the Season of Pentecost”
    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —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

[on Latin] “No change in Mass: people have missals and can read. More vernacular can be useful in the Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Extreme Unction, Matrimony.”

— Cardinal Spellman (one of the Vatican II fathers)

Recent Posts

  • “Offertory Verses and Why You Should Sing Them” (Includes PDF Download)
  • “Colorado Sacred Music Conference” August 9-10 (2023) • Highlands Ranch, CO
  • PDF Download • “Epitome Gradualis Romani” • Professionally Scanned — 1,106 pages!
  • Re: Ancient Sequence (Thursday after Pentecost)
  • PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”

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