• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Extremely Simple (Yet Gorgeous) Polyphonic Funeral Mass

Jeff Ostrowski · October 23, 2020

HEN YOUNG CHURCH MUSICIANS emerge from the conservatory, they are filled with zeal. I wanted to sing every polyphonic piece ever written: Manchicourt, Pierre de la Rue, Marenzio, Lassus, Guerrero, Palestrina, the brothers Nanino, and so forth. I hated repeating pieces too frequently because I always wanted to be learning something new. 1 But one eventually realizes that pieces must be rehearsed repeatedly (even with professional singers) before the tuning “clicks”—perhaps because someone enjoying sight-reading can’t focus 100% on intonation. A mature choirmaster realizes that it is often better to sing a “simple” Mass setting, rather than a very difficult one. Shortly before the death of Pope Pius XII, the Sacred Congregation for Rites issued De musica sacra et sacra liturgia (3 September 1958):

“In general, it is better to do something well on a small scale than to attempt something elaborate without sufficient resources to do it properly.”—§60a

That, my friends, is the raison d’etre for this extremely simple yet absolutely gorgeous setting of the Requiem Mass: KYRIE, SANCTUS-HOSANNA, BENEDICTUS-HOSANNA, and AGNUS DEI. It is basically the same piece repeated five times:

If you have ever attended a Solemn Requiem Mass, you will never forget it. The holiness of the prayers—truly marvelous. The black vestments in particular are so very powerful. I have seen black & gold vestments, but my absolute favorite is black & silver. Stunning! The Requiem Mass demands a distinctive musical setting; an “ordinary” Ordinary won’t do…and please pardon the pun!

Requiem • “Kyrie Eleison”

*  PDF Download • REQUIEM KYRIE (Simple)
—After “Missa pro defunctis” (1605AD) by Father Tomás Luis de Victoria (d. 1611).

The following rehearsal videos were recorded by one person—Jeff Ostrowski—and he apologizes for the poor singing quality, but they were meant for rehearsal only.

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
1st SOPRANO : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
2nd SOPRANO : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
ALTO : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
1st TENOR : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
2nd TENOR : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
BASS : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled

Requiem • “Sanctus & Benedictus”

*  PDF Download • REQUIEM SANCTUS (Simple)
—After “Missa pro defunctis” (1605AD) by Father Tomás Luis de Victoria (d. 1611).

The following rehearsal videos were recorded by one person—Jeff Ostrowski—and he apologizes for the poor singing quality, but they were meant for rehearsal only.

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
1st SOPRANO : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
2nd SOPRANO : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
ALTO : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
1st TENOR : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
2nd TENOR : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
BASS : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled

Requiem • “Agnus Dei”

*  PDF Download • REQUIEM AGNUS DEI (Simple)
—After a manuscript (circa 1310AD) in the Worcester Cathedral Library.

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
TOP : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
MIDDLE : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled
BASS : YouTube   •   Mp3 Labeled

* You can hear how this Agnus Dei sounds in real life by listening to this live recording from a Funeral.

See also: #88089 — 3-part Medieval “Worcester” Agnus Dei

74094-Simple-Requiem-KYRIE
74094-Simple-Requiem-SANCTUS
74094-Simple-Requiem-AGNUS

 


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Such an attitude is natural and healthy for a young choirmaster.

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

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Missa Pro Defunctis, Officium Defunctorum, Requiem Mass, Tomas Luis de Victoria Composer Last Updated: July 22, 2023

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —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

“It would be a grave error to imagine that the principle orientation of the sacrificial action is towards the community. If the priest celebrates «VERSUS POPULUM», which is legitimate and often advisable, his spiritual attitude ought always to be «VERSUS DEUM PER JESUM CHRISTUM», as representative of the entire Church.”

— Official Vatican Statement (25 September 2000)

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

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.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up