Views from the Choir Loft

Holy Mass During World War II • (9 April 1944)

Jeff Ostrowski · September 2, 2020

HE HOLY MASS on Easter Sunday “in the field” (9 April 1944). Written on reverse of photograph: “German troops included in American Easter services via loud-speaker! Hostilities ceased for one hour on this front-line sector during services, conducted by American troops and directed across the lines by specifically installed amplifiers. Here, Chaplain Leo J. Crowley says Mass to a group of soldiers who were close enough to leave their fox-holes to attend. (Italy, 9 April 1944)”

It reminds me of our parish at the moment. (Due to California’s Covid-19 regulations, we’re currently celebrating Mass in a huge tent outside the Church.) I’m afraid I don’t have a date for this one:

I don’t have a date for this one either, but notice how the server lifts the Chasuble of the priest for the Consecration of the SANCTISSIMUM:

This is from “The Great War” (photo taken 27 February 1916)—the Holy Mass for Italian troops on the frontlines:

There are many more photographs such as those, and this website is a great place to start.

Also: 01 02 03 04 05

Bonus Question:

Did you notice the guy playing keyboard?

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).

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski

16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski