Views from the Choir Loft

Goal Met • Why We’re Grateful To Our Readers

Jeff Ostrowski · July 28, 2020

HANKS to our readers—that’s you, by the way!—something has been accomplished which very few people thought possible. We met our fundraising goal—and perhaps you noticed we removed the annoying “pop-up” window asking for donations. On behalf of our entire team, I thank you sincerely for your support! In spite of the response to Covid-19—which has devastated so many Catholic families and dioceses—your generosity saved the day. I think this proves beyond a shadow of a doubt: AUTHENTIC CATHOLIC SACRED MUSIC IS NOT GOING AWAY. (Thanks to your kindness!)

A Small Gift For You

Thomas à Kempis said we must frequently contemplate the sufferings of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Padre Pio said the same thing. Saint John Mary Vianney said the same thing. The Jesuit martyrs of North America—Father John Brébeuf, Father Isaac Jogues, Father Antoine Daniel, etc.—said the same thing.

Therefore, here are some 15th-century images that might assist your meditations:

OUR LORD BEFORE ANNAS:

OUR LORD BEFORE CAIAPHAS:

OUR LORD BEFORE PILATE:

OUR LORD IS UNJUSTLY SCOURGED:

ECCE HOMO:

VERONICA WITH SUDARIUM:

OUR LORD DIES ON THE CROSS FOR US:

These pictures are quite amazing. Consider the level of detail:

Pontius Pilate’s yellow garment is particularly remarkable, in my humble opinion.

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

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).

Myth Re: Johann Sebastian Bach

Some musicologists try to make a “splash” by saying that Bach was totally forgotten when he died—remembered only as an organ virtuoso—and that his sons were more famous than he was. Such an idea is indefensible. It is true that musical styles changed in 1750AD—but this is normal. Musical styles change constantly; e.g. much of the repertoire of Hofmann and Rachmaninov was considered “garbage” toward the end of their lives. But those who carefully study the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Liszt, Hans von Bülow, Felix Mendelssohn, Frédéric Chopin, and countless others realize that Bach was revered. It’s true that his music was seldom played in public, but music by “dead composers” was generally speaking not played in public until approximately the middle of the 19th century.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Arthur Friedheim, Franz Liszt’s Secretary

Arthur Friedheim (d. 1932) has a very poor reputation as a pianist, and Liszt rejected him several times before finally accepting him as a pupil, yet the Liszt recordings he left are quite good—especially considering the transgressions by other Liszt pupils. Friedheim must have been an amazing musician; twice he was asked to become conductor of the New York Philharmonic (1898 + 1911) but he declined both times. Circa 1912, Friedheim was recording Chopin’s “Funeral March” but the record ran out, so he simply stopped in the middle of the piece. Things sure have changed! Pianists no longer stop in the middle of pieces, although Cortot would sometimes abridge pieces to make them fit on records (cf. Chopin’s Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise Brilliante).

—Jeff Ostrowski

“A blast from the past”

Consilium document (“Instantibus Pluribus”) to presidents of the national liturgical commissions, on norms for translation of the Graduale Simplex, dated 23 January 1968: “The types of chant in the Graduale Simplex may be adapted to the style of music and song typical of individual peoples. But any sort of secular or profane melody is excluded.”

—Jeff Ostrowski