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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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).

“Music List” • 19th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10 August 2025). 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 feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

This Sunday’s Communion Antiphon

This coming Sunday—10 August 2025—is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). The COMMUNION ANTIPHON is really gorgeous, and two of its features are worth mentioning. First of all, the Gospel reading assigned is from Saint Luke, whereas the the antiphon—although it matches the account—comes from Saint Matthew. (If anyone can point to a similar example, please notify me.) Furthermore, if you look at the authentic Gregorian Chant version posted on the feasts website, you’ll notice that it’s MODE III but ends on the ‘wrong’ note. A comparable instance of such a ‘transposed’ chant would be KYRIE IV.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly

Using “Ye” vs. “You” is rather tricky, because it depends upon which era one is trying to recreate—if that makes any sense. In other words, the rules haven’t always been the same for these two. Nevertheless, Father Philip George Caraman (the legendary Jesuit scholar) gives us a masterclass using Saint Luke’s Gospel. Father Caraman was close friends with Monsignor Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, and Sir Alec Guinness.

—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