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Views from the Choir Loft

Can These Youngsters Save Catholic Music?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 8, 2020

CAN DECLARE myself the King of France, but that doesn’t make it so. I can say I’m an Olympic Gold Medalist, but that doesn’t make it so. Similarly, calling a composition “a canon” doesn’t make it a canon. Canons are the most difficult composition to write because they follow strict rules; indeed, canon means “rule.” I thought this was basic knowledge until I came across a shameful book published by GIA Publications called 59 Liturgical Rounds. In this book, editor William Tortolano has taken a whole bunch of tunes and pretended they are rounds (canons). The trouble is, many aren’t. When something is not a proper canon, labeling it as such is pure folly. Such contemptible rubbish—published by a company that was formerly called “Gregorian Institute of America”—makes me wonder whether our current culture is still capable of appreciating even basic realities about the craft of music. Is there any hope left? Such ignorance is enough to tempt one to despair.

…but then I encounter something like The Brébeuf Virtual Choir.

These youngsters—who met one another at the Sacred Music Symposium—recently recorded a piece by Father Tomás Luis de Victoria which contains a perfect canon between the two Soprano lines. These youngsters are doing amazing things; and I am filled with hope.

To download the score free of charge, visit Lalemant Polyphonic and search for #7412. Rehearsal videos for each individual voice are posted there, too.

August 6th is the feast of the Transfiguration; but the piece also works well for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. You can learn more about this amazing piece here:

*  Online Article • “Resplenduit Facies Ejus”

If you don’t really understand what a canon is, listen to the following section with Tenor & Bass muted:

The top two voices form the canon: “Canon ad unisonum” and “Resolutio.” Canons are often employed for this text because the previous verse says: “Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John with him, and led them to a high mountain…” Anytime Renaissance composers hear someone “leading” someone else, they try to employ a canon.

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

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Brébeuf Virtual Choir Last Updated: July 8, 2020

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Jeff Ostrowski

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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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

4 March 2021 • Can you spare 15 seconds?

Due to Covid-19, California has basically been under “lock down” for 11 months, and these restrictions have had quite a detrimental effect on our choral programs. We are frequently limited to just 2-3 singers, on account of regulations by the government and our Archdiocese. However, although the number of singers is quite small, I was struck by the beauty of the singing last Sunday. Listen to this 15-second live excerpt and see if you agree?

—Jeff Ostrowski
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According to Monsignor Frederick R. McManus, there were “policemen” serving the Sanhedrin in the time of Our Blessed Lord. Look at this awful translation in the 1966 “Saint Andrew Bible Missal” from 1966. Yuck!

—Jeff Ostrowski
Surprising Popularity!

One of our most popular downloads has proven to be the organ accompaniment to “The Monastery Hymnal” (131 pages). This book was compiled, arranged, and edited by Achille P. Bragers, who studied at the Lemmensinstituut (Belgium) about thirty years before that school produced the NOH. Bragers might be considered an example of Belgium “Stile Antico” whereas Flor Peeters and Jules Van Nuffel represented Belgium “Prima Pratica.” You can download the hymnal by Bragers at this link.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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