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Views from the Choir Loft

What a young Father Morales wrote for Charles V

Jeff Ostrowski · April 2, 2020

Y TEACHER knew Robert Murrell Stevenson (d. 2012) personally, because Roger Wagner (d. 1992) was very close to Stevenson. Stevenson taught at UCLA, and Wagner was director of Choral Activities at UCLA. My teacher also knew Monsignor Higinio Anglès (d. 1969)—and they spoke together in German, since both were fluent in German. Stevenson did much of his research in South America and Central America, whereas Anglès (from Catalonia) did much of his research in Rome. Anglès produced the complete works (“Opera Omnia”) of Cristóbal de Morales.

Stevenson (d. 2012) tells the fascinating story of this motet by the young Father Morales:

Father Morales wrote his 6-voice motet (“Jubilate Deo omnis terra”) for the June 1538 peace celebrations at Nice. It was at this Riviera haven that Pope Paul III finally succeeded in persuading Charles V and Francis I to conduct a peace parley. Convinced that music might somehow soothe the principals to a peace treaty, Pope Paul III brought along twenty of his own singers: all richly garbed in new velvet cassocks and silk surplices (the cost of these sumptuous garments having been paid for out of his private discretionary funds). Morales’s motet evidently made the desired impression, if its long-continuing popularity after the peace conference is accepted as sufficient evidence. The printing of the vocal parts—first at Lyons in 1542 and then at Venice in 1549—testify to the continuing popularity of a cantata that can have been conceived originally as no more than an occasional composition.

Nobody knows who made this recording!

…but it might have been Roger Wagner:


Translation:

“Rejoice in the Lord, all ye lands; sing joyfully; rejoice and tell His praises. For, through the mediaton of Pope Paul III, CHARLES V (Carolus) and Francis I (those kings of vast domains) have agreed to unite; and peace descends from Heaven. —— O happy age, O happy Paul, O ye happy princes who have delivered peace to the Christian people. Long live Paul! Long live Charles! Long live Francis! Long may they live together, and may they give us peace for ever!”

I prefer this old recording—but there are plenty of modern recordings available if you don’t like it.

Here’s my question: What if peace had not been concluded? Would the composition have gone to waste?

Here is an example of how the Part Books looked.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: April 3, 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

16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • Gorgeous Book

If there is a more beautiful book than Abbat Pothier’s 1888 Processionale Monasticum, I don’t know what it might be. This gorgeous tome was today added to the Saint John Lalande Online Library. I wish I owned a physical copy.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It should be borne in mind that there is no preference expressed in the liturgical legislation for either “versus populum” or “ad orientem.” Since both positions enjoy the favor of law, the legislation may not be invoked to say that one position or the other accords more closely with the mind of the Church.

— ‘Congregation for Divine Worship (Vatican City), 10 April 2000’

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