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Corpus Christi Watershed

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

Why Should You Come to the Symposium?

Andrea Leal · February 25, 2020

VER the last few years I have been volunteering my time to help the FSSP apostolate in Los Angeles organize the Sacred Music Symposium. I have spoken to many Catholics in the process of accepting participants into the Symposium, and what I found quite striking was how many of them had either been suddenly thrust into a position of starting a choir, or could see it looming clearly on the horizon. I was astonished to realize that the renewal of the traditional liturgy and of authentic sacred music is a very real thing, and that it is developing rapidly all over America (indeed, all over the world).

In every parish there will always be that one person who is the most capable of starting a choir. Usually it’s someone who has had some musical training in the past or has a natural talent for music. They are not necessarily a highly qualified individual with a music degree, but they have a deep and abiding love for the Holy Mass and for beautiful music. They are the ones who end up in the trenches, so to speak, trying to gather up people and teach them to sing for the Mass – with little to no resources.

That is why this year’s Symposium (June 15 -June 19 in Los Angeles) is going to be particularly useful to all of us who are in the “trenches”. This year’s focus is on making your volunteer choir sound absolutely stunning. You will be trained in useful rehearsal techniques and you will be given real world advice for improving your choir. This is the kind of information you will be able to put into immediate use at your parish upon your return home.

But lest you think that this is only for directors of new choirs, rest assured that even if you are a seasoned music director, you will come away with excellent methods of improving your choir, even if they are already doing well. Dr. Horst Buchholz, Dr. Alfred Calabrese, Maestro Kevin Allen, and others will be present to share their professional secrets with you.

If you want to improve your volunteer choir, send an e-mail to dom.mocquereau@gmail.com to request an application (please be sure to include a phone number where we can reach you).

And if you aren’t sure that the Symposium is for you, you may witness for yourself the fruits of past Symposiums. Allow me introduce you to one of my singers, Karen (age 19), who has been attending the Symposium with me every year since she was 15. Here she was, just yesterday morning, training the next generation of singers. Incidentally, music is a family effort – Karen and four of her siblings all sing in our Schola! This is just one small example of the abundant fruits of attending the FSSP Sacred Music Symposium.

If you are one of those people who is tentatively stepping up into the role of leading a choir, be strong and carry on. You can absolutely do this, and we want to help you! Learn all about what to expect at the Symposium by visiting ccwatershed.org/symposium.

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

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Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: February 26, 2020

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About Andrea Leal

Andrea Leal is a wife and homeschooling mother of 6 children. She serves as choir director for the Traditional Latin Mass in Las Vegas.—(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It is clear the Church is facing a grave crisis. Under the name of “the new Church” and “the post-conciliar Church,” a different Church from that of Jesus Christ is now trying to establish itself: an anthropocentric society threatened with imminent apostasy which is allowing itself to be swept along in a movement of general abdication under the pretext of renewal, ecumenicism, or adaptation.

— Cardinal Henri de Lubac (29 August 1967)

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  • Important Quote by a Church Musician

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