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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

PDF Download • “Saint Ralph Sherwin Mass”

Jeff Ostrowski · June 11, 2020

ROUGHOUT my life, I have experienced something to which many artists can relate: I tend to loathe my compositions once I have “moved on” to other things. Readers may remember that about five years ago I basically stopped composing because of a “revelation” I received apropos the music of Father Francisco Guerrero. I realized Guerrero was composing on a completely different level; and this came out of his years of listening to choirs (since he was a small boy) and carefully studying music with his teacher, Father Cristóbal de Morales. I repeat: His music is on a completely different level. So I stopped composing. But a few days ago, I received a telephone call from one of the most famous choirmasters alive today. (He is not from the United States, by the way.) This person told me repeatedly how much my compositions meant to him. Indeed, he insisted on singing many of them over the phone! His kind words meant the world to me. The end result? I’m considering composing again, perhaps even before the year ends.

In the meantime, I will be releasing five (5) Mass settings which I composed about ten years ago. We begin with the “Mass in honor of Saint Ralph Sherwin.”

*  PDF Download • ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENTS
—Organ Accompaniment for the “Our Father” is included.

*  PDF Printable • Modern Notation Booklet
—Make sure to select “double sided” when you print this.

*  PDF Printable • Gregorian Notation Booklet
—Make sure to select “double sided” when you print this.

Let me be honest: I am not pleased with the quality of the rehearsal videos, but some might find them useful:

*  Rehearsal Video • “Kyrie Eleison” (St. Sherwin)

*  Rehearsal Video • “Lord, have mercy” (St. Sherwin)

*  Rehearsal Video • “Glory to God” (St. Sherwin)

*  Rehearsal Video • “Holy, Holy, Holy” (St. Sherwin)

*  Rehearsal Video • “Mystery of Faith” (St. Sherwin)

*  Rehearsal Video • “Great Amen” (St. Sherwin)

*  Rehearsal Video • “Lamb of God” (St. Sherwin)

Mæstro Gregory Glenn, one of greatest Catholic choirmasters in America, has said: “The Saint Ralph Sherwin Gloria is a remarkably prayerful musical setting of the text that is sure to serve our worship for years to come—well worth the investment of time to teach your parish community.”

 

Artwork taken from the The 12th Century Missal of Limoges.

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

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Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Cantor Plus Organist, Pieces For Small Choirs, Roman Missal Third Edition Last Updated: January 11, 2022

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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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 29th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 19 October 2025, which is the 29th 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 sensational feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“Whether celebrated with priest and people facing each other or with priest and people together facing the same direction, every Eucharist is Christ coming to meet us, gracing us with a share in his own divine life.”

— Most Rev’d Arthur J. Serratelli (1 December 2016)

Recent Posts

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  • Children’s Repertoire • Three More Recommendations by Keven Smith
  • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major

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