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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

A Hymn We’re Singing This Lent—In English!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 11, 2020

AVE YOU NOTICED what’s happening? Each week, rehearsal videos are being added to this website, so people can hear each line individually. Hymns can be sung SATB without organ accompaniment, or “German Style” (unison+organ), but can you keep a secret? Hymns also sound really good SATB with organ accompaniment, which is why the Brébeuf Choral Supplement matches the Brébeuf organ harmonies.

During Lent, my choirs have been singing #217 from the Brébeuf hymnal:

Hear each individual voice by visiting the Brébeuf website and scrolling to #217.

That hymn is Ex More Docti Mystico—an ancient, powerful Catholic hymn—translated into English by a talented Catholic priest from England. (You can also see what the plainsong version looks like.)

OME PEOPLE SAY the most wonderful thing about the Brébeuf hymnal is how it uses “common melodies.” These simple tunes make life easy on your congregation! Needless to say, anyone who wishes to add more tunes will have no troubles, since the Brébeuf hymnal contains hundreds. But other Catholic hymnals use common melodies as well. Have you heard of the People’s Mass Book (1964) published by Omer Westendorf? [Omer Westendorf used “J. Clifford Evers” as a pen name.] That book uses tons of common melodies—many of which appear in the Brébeuf hymnal, such as Ad Perennis Vitae Fontem, Dulce Carmen, Oriel, and tons more.

For example, do you recognize this tune?

That’s a page from the People’s Mass Book (1964). So the Brébeuf is hardly the first Catholic hymnal to utilize common melodies!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Jean de Brebeuf Hymnal Last Updated: March 11, 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

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

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“In accordance with the ancient tradition of the Church, institution to the ministries of reader and acolyte is reserved to men.”

— Pope Saint Paul VI (15 August 1972)

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