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Views from the Choir Loft

“Just how Tridentine are you?” • Quiz by GIA Publications

Jeff Ostrowski · July 8, 2020

NE OF MY TEACHERS used to frequently exclaim: “Sometimes what goes without saying needs to be said.” I often need a joke clearly explained to me, otherwise I won’t get it. On the other hand, when I read certain articles it’s easy for me to read between the lines—in other words, I can deduce somebody’s opinion by the choice of language. I doubt any of our readers need to be reminded that “he who controls the language controls the argument.” In 2004, GIA Publications published a quiz written by Fred Moleck. Do you see the “code words” Mr. Moleck uses to subtly attack the Traditional Latin Mass? I have placed several in red ink:

Who still has the knowledge and capability to celebrate a Tridentine solemn high Mass without going to a dozen different sources for rubrics and repertory? I devised a little self-examining checklist to see if you are equipped to rehearse and perform the music that the Tridentine rite needs to recapture the masses of yesteryear with full understanding of the choreography of the sacred drama unfolding in front of our very eyes. You see why so many folks bemoan the fact that, since the Mass went into English, we’ve lost so much of the mystery. Guess what? The mystery is still there, but it’s not in a foreign tongue, and it’s a ritual that makes very clear where one is in the worship chain.

Notice how many silly errors Fred Moleck makes in this quiz:

*  PDF Quiz • “Just how Tridentine are you?” (GIA Publications)

For instance, Fred Moleck thinks it is called “Asperge me, Domine” (wrong). Fred Moleck is wrong when he asks: “On what important feast is the Agnus Dei omitted?” He meant to say Holy Saturday but got confused and said Holy Thursday. Fred Moleck is wrong about the posture during the singing of the Gloria and Credo (although he is partially correct). Fred Moleck is also wrong about the posture during “Et incarnatus est.”

Today is the 13th Anniversary of the announcement of Summorum Pontificum. (It would take effect on 14 September.) God is good; we have much to be thankful for. And Fred Moleck’s “quiz” is even goofier now than it was in 2004!

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

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Heretical GIA Hymns, Summorum Pontificum Last Updated: July 7, 2021

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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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

Random Quote

“Those who teach Latin must know how to speak to the hearts of the young, know how to treasure the very rich heritage of the Latin tradition to educate them in the path of life, and accompany them along paths rich in hope and confidence.”

— Pope Francis (7 December 2017)

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

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