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

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • About
  • Symposium
  • Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for December 2020

Andrea Leal · December 31, 2020

Hymns for the Holy Name of Jesus

Covid-friendly hymns for the Feast of the Holy Name.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Keven Smith · December 28, 2020

Start the New Year Right with a Spectacular Alleluia

If you attend the Extraordinary Form, the Alleluia for the Octave of the Nativity will enable you to start the New Year with a bang.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · December 27, 2020

“Homily — Feast of the Holy Family, Year B” • Father Valentine Young, OFM

I can speak mainly from my experience with Indians, more specifically the Navajos; their native culture has a great respect and love for marriage and family life.

Veronica Brandt · December 26, 2020

Chasing the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I thought making a course on singing the Little Office would be an easy project. However, as with just about everything to do with Sacred Music, there is so much more to it than you expect.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · December 23, 2020

PDF Download • “Midnight Mass Musical Plan” (2020)

To show our singers how special our music is, I’ve included ancient MSS for each piece—as well as rehearsal videos.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 23, 2020

23 December 2020 • A 5th? or 4th?

I have noticed that where the Editio Vaticana has a descending perfect fourth for the Gradual of Christmas Midnight Mass, many ancient manuscripts have a descending perfect fifth, which is pretty cool: Example A — Example B. The Vatican Edition is a CENTO, and never made any claim to be anything other than a CENTO. […]

Jeff Ostrowski · December 23, 2020

PDF Download • “Creator Alme Siderum” with Organ Accompaniment

The Brébeuf Hymnal provides ancient (Roman Catholic) English translations of this hymn, but Eleanor Parker found versions in Anglo-Saxon!

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · December 22, 2020

“Improving As Musicians” • Eight Suggestions

Did you know I communicate with dead Catholic composers? I’m not joking.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Keven Smith · December 21, 2020

Hidden Gem: Alma Redemptoris Mater (Salazar)

Here’s a Spanish Baroque motet that will gradually, gently win your heart while giving your choir another good option for the entire Christmas cycle.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Daniel Tucker · December 20, 2020

What’s With All the Chant?

I had the honor of presenting this material to my parishioners at St. Thérèse Little Flower Catholic Church last week.

Richard J. Clark · December 20, 2020

Announcement of Easter & the Movable Feasts • 2021 • English & Spanish

The following free downloads in English and Spanish contain dates for 2021 in the score.

William J. Fritz · December 17, 2020

(Installment #15) “Catholic Hymnals” • William Fritz

To (re)Harmonize a Hymn—“Anima Christi” by Dr. Theodore Marier

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · December 16, 2020

The First Time We’ve Ever Done This Correctly!

Abbot Pothier included a section called “De Ritibus Servandis In Cantu Missae.”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 15, 2020

“Blessing the Bell” • Most Rev’d Alejandro D. Aclan

When a monk hears the bell, he stops whatever he’s doing and immediately goes to prayer. It is the voice of God calling us to pray, to avoid sin, and to forget the things of this world and think of Him.

Richard J. Clark · December 15, 2020

Saint Paul’s Choir School Presents “Starry Night: Christmas in Harvard Square”

A beacon of light in a dark time, the Saint Paul’s Choir of Men and Boys presents “Starry Night: Christmas in Harvard Square”

Keven Smith · December 14, 2020

How to Help Children Match Pitch (part III)

Three more tips on what to do and how to act with your young music students. Learn the secret ingredient of success!

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · December 13, 2020

“Rorate Mass” (FSSP) • 12 December 2020

Attendance was standing room only. Afterwards, the children presented roses to Mary—as the entire parish prayed the Rosary—and then we consecrated California to Jesus Christ.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 12, 2020

“Homily — 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B” • Father Valentine Young, OFM

As the Gloria during Mass suggests, we should “thank Him simply because of His great glory.” When is the last time you did that?

Richard J. Clark · December 11, 2020

Safety in Music is a Pro-Life Issue

Updated music protocols in the Archdiocese of Boston include multiple layers of protection: masks, ventilation, distance, time.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 10, 2020

10 December 2020 • “Martinelli’s Letter”

My recent post on the repercussion has induced some to ask: “Can we just sing whatever rhythm we want for the Vatican Edition? What about mensuralism? What about Bonvin and Vollaerts?” For those of us who work in the Extraordinary Form, we must follow the rhythm of the Editio Vaticana, and this was addressed in […]

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

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
14 May 2022 • Gorgeous Book

If there is a more beautiful book than Abbat Pothier’s 1888 Processionale Monasticum, I don’t know what it might be. This gorgeous tome was today added to the Saint John Lalande Online Library. I wish I owned a physical copy.

—Jeff Ostrowski
Sound Familiar?

1 June 1579: “The chapter passes a rule that anyone ascending to the new organ without official permission shall be fined a month’s pay.”

26 October 1579: “The altar boys remain always separate and distinct from choirboys—the one group learning only plainchant and assisting at the altar, the other living with the chapel-master and studying counterpoint and polyphony as well. Father Francisco Guerrero postpones his departure for Rome and instead spends the entire year in Seville making ready for the trip. In the meantime he neglects his choirboys. On 16 November, after considerable complaint against their unruliness and ignorance, he engages an assistant, Bartolomé Farfán.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

At the Council of Trent, the subject was raised whether it was correct to refer to the unconsecrated elements of bread and wine as “immaculata hostia” (spotless victim) and “calix salutaris” (chalice of salvation) in the offertory prayers. Likewise the legitimacy of the making the sign of the cross over the elements after the Eucharistic consecration was discussed.

— ‘Fr. Uwe Michael Lang, Cong. Orat.’

Recent Posts

  • Prayer of Abandonment,  Saint Charles de Foucauld
  • Worst Chanting I’ve Ever Heard
  • 14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition
  • 14 May 2022 • Gorgeous Book
  • Musician-Saints Throughout the Ages

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

Copyright © 2022 Corpus Christi Watershed · Gabriel Lalemant 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.