Views from the Choir Loft

Rehearsal Video • Breathtaking Morales “Sanctus”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2020

ARIOUS CATHOLIC SAINTS—such as Padre Pio, Don Bosco, and St. John Vianney—have warned against the sin of idle gossip. Successful choirmasters almost never partake in gossip, because they are usually so overworked they have no time for it. Idle gossip would include constant & unceasing speculation about Covid-19 and the future; and I certainly will not add to such speculation. I would point out, however, that so many people staying home is a perfect opportunity to prepare for Sacred Music Symposium 2020. For this reason, CCWatershed contributors—Veronica Moreno, Andrea Leal, and Cynthia Ostrowski—have come together (digitally) to help me start recording rehearsal videos!

Here is the Sanctus by Father Morales “Missa Mille Regretz” Cappella Sistina MS 17:

Note: You won’t want to miss the “Hosanna” section!

You can also download this song as an Mp3 file.

If you dislike our version, you can hear a professional recording by the Hilliard Ensemble.

Sacred Music Symposium Participants

If you are planning to participate in June, please scroll to the bottom of the Symposium website and you will notice rehearsal videos have slowly begun to appear. Please practice! By the way, the success of the Symposium is not only due to the people who run the Symposium—it’s also due to the participants. The participants, whether they know it or not, are joining a proud line of Catholic Church musicians going back at least 120 years. If you read the old journals—such as Caecilia Magazine—you can find many descriptions of church music conferences.

Regarding this Sanctus by Father Morales, there is an amazing history behind this piece. We have already begun the process of explaining it, but there is much more to discuss. However, when it comes to complicated topics, they must be presented in an organized and proper way—otherwise they just lead to confusion. So please stay tuned!

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

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).

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed