Views from the Choir Loft

Litany of St Joseph

Veronica Brandt · January 28, 2020

SINGING LITANIES is probably an acquired taste. I haven’t found anyone yet who loves them straight out of the box. When teaching my kids, they always give you that look as if to ask “how much longer does this have to go?”. Maybe letting them know that this one is the shortest one in the Liber Usualis will help them feel better.

On the positive side, litanies are easy to learn. The same responses occur over and over again. One run through may be all you require – and all that you can extract from limited attention spans.

Typing up litanies is a challenge in itself. The Liber Usualis and other books align several lines of invocations under the one line of chant. Software like gregorio is designed for perfectly aligning one line of text at a time. Asking it to spread the notes out and align a few more lines underneath takes more patience and some clever tricks.

* * Litany of St. Joseph (PDF)Download

Although I’m sure some people will be impressed with that PDF, most times when I present people with a score, they complain that they can’t read this four line stuff and they will require a recording. Here is a quick recording of my eldest son and myself singing through the Litany of St Joseph in Latin.

* * Litany of St Joseph (MP3)Download

And may St Joseph bless you and your family with good weather, patience, humility, work, housing, safe travels and a happy death. St Joseph is also one of the patron saints of confectioners.

About Veronica Brandt

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. As editor, she has produced fine publications (as well as valuable reprints) dealing with Gregorian chant, hymnody, Latin, and other subjects. These publications are distinguished on account of their tastefulness. She lives in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her husband Peter and six children.

Sacred Music Symposium • “What We Avoid”

I wish we had to time to discuss artwork at the Sacred Music Symposium, but there’s just not enough time. At this year’s conference in June, we will sing an absolutely incredible Magnificat setting by Father Francisco Guerrero (d. 1599). If you examine the part books, you will notice a marvelous aesthetic desire to avoid the same capital letter—for the sake of beauty. Do you see how the Part Books find a way to avoid repeating the Capital G twice, by using the word “Superius” (which is roughly analogous to “Soprano”)? Breathtaking!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Abraham” • Guerrero Imitates His Teacher

Father Francisco Guerrero (d. 1599) studied music with Father Cristóbal de Morales circa 1545. He taught himself the organ. On 3 April 1542 he was engaged as a contralto by Seville Cathedral at an annual salary of 12,000 maravedís. He remained there until 1546, when, at the age of only 17, he was invited—on the recommendation of Father Morales—to become mæstro de capilla of Jaén Cathedral. He was entrusted with the boarding, lodging, and instruction of the six choirboys; but he neglected this duty and was sentenced to be dismissed on 30 August 1548. However, he was absolved and reinstated on 3 November. I think you can see (perhaps) a little homage to his teacher on the word “Abraham.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Too much music!

Choosing music for the Sacred Music Symposium requires careful consideration. We make sure (always) to have great variety. Because the schedule is so full, there’s never sufficient time to discuss the music fully—indeed, we could easily do a month-long seminar on each piece! For example, last year Dr. Calabrese conducted a setting of the Magnificat by Father Guerrero (d. 1599). It is one of the most magnificent (pardon the pun) pieces ever written, and I wish I had time to point out the brilliant way he syncopates the word “dispersit,” which means “He has scattered” or “He has dispersed.” Superb!

—Jeff Ostrowski