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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Communication • Re: Modern Catholic Hymns

Jeff Ostrowski · September 26, 2020

HE BLOG of the Church Music Association of America said of the Brébeuf hymnal: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.” That same article also declared it to be “…hands down, the best Catholic hymnal ever published.” Of course there are many reasons why this is so, but something you might not realize is that the book contains many new melodies written specifically for this publication. A partial list would include: CAMCOLT, ROGERS PARK, MANKATO, HEUSTIS, RUNNELLS, SILLERY, FORTESCUE, RAYMBAULT, CLERMONT, ST RITA, and FIORILLO.

Almost without exception, these melodies are modal. In my humble opinion, they remind one of Gustav Theodore Holst’s “fresh and beutiful” hymn tune called THAXTED. Perhaps an expert like Charles Weaver could explain the modality of this tune. Due to its frequent plagal cadences, it strikes me as “semi-modal.”

The Brébeuf hymnal uses THAXTED for three different texts, and here’s one of them:

Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #865.

The hymn melody THAXTED was originally set to a secular melody: I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above. Believe it or not, “sharing” often occurs between secular and sacred melodies. For instance, the melody for “America the Beautiful” was originally a hymn tune. There is not a “correct” text for this hymn—and the Brébeuf choices are quite clever. However, other hymnals have attempted similar pairings. An example would be Number 539 in The Collegeville Hymnal, published by Father Edward J. McKenna in 1990. The Brébeuf example above is a paraphrase of Psalm 71. You can decide for yourself how closely the poet matched the text:

The hymn THAXTED is usually sung unison:

…but as you can see, the Brébeuf hymnal provided harmonies. I am not aware of any other hymnals—except for the Brébeuf—which provide a 4-part (SATB) setting for THAXTED.

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

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Jean de Brebeuf Hymnal, THAXTED HYMN TUNE Last Updated: September 26, 2020

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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

    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). 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 dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on which source text is chosen and what each translator wants to emphasize. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Of course, the new [Easter Vigil] liturgy has greatly streamlined the symbology. But the exaggerated simplification has removed elements that used to have quite a hold on the mindset of the faithful. […] Is this Easter Vigil liturgy definitive?”

— Paul VI to Virgilio Noè (10 April 1971)

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