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

Corpus Christi Watershed

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.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • 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 • “Creator Alme Siderum” with Organ Accompaniment

Jeff Ostrowski · December 23, 2020

S MOST OF OUR READERS KNOW, I have made an extensive study of the ancient Roman Catholic hymns which refer to “Christ as Creator.” A prominent example of this would be CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM, which was called “Creator Alme Siderum” after 1631AD. Why was the name changed? Well, it’s a long and fascinating story—involving Pope Urban VIII and the Jesuits—and I would encourage you to pick up a copy of the Brébeuf hymnal, currently being sold exclusively by Sophia Institute Press. Inside that book, the complete history of the “Urbanite Revision” is provided, along with beautiful full-color images.

Writing a review for the “Antiphon” liturgical journal, Dr. Aaron James had effusive praise for the way in which the editors of the Brébeuf Hymnal treated the Urbanite hymn reform. (That’s why I encourage you to obtain a copy.) But since Advent is almost over, I wanted to post a few score of CREATOR ALME SIDERUM you might want to download for next year:

*  PDF Download • ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT
—2015 Organ accompaniment by Jeff Ostrowski.

*  PDF Download • (1st Singer Score)
—This version has an English translation by Father Edward Caswall (d. 1878).

*  PDF Download • (2nd Singer Score)
—This version has an English translation by Father Adrian Fortescue (d. 1923).

A lady named Eleanor Parker runs quite a fantastic blog called “A Clerk of Oxford.” Similar to the Brébeuf hymnal, she has provided color images of ancient (Roman Catholic) vernacular translations for CREATOR ALME SIDERUM—except that the Brébeuf translations are in English, whereas Eleanor’s translations are in Anglo-Saxon:

*  Eleanor Parker’s Blog • “Creator Alme Siderum”

The images she provides are truly spectacular:

Covid-19 has created insane difficulties, and our current choir situation is exasperating due to all the restrictions. We have small groups of singers, mainly people from the same family because the government counts people in the same family as “one unit.” I used an iPhone to record one of the groups singing CREATOR ALME SIDERUM, but the iPhone corrupted the choral sound resulting in a recording that doesn’t do justice to how beautiful they sounded in real life. In any event, we have several groups that sing at several Masses, and I often use higher or lower tessitura depending upon the voices. The Organ Accompaniment for the Edmund Campion Missal has come in quite handy:

*  Accompaniment • Kyriale in Three Keys (388 pages)
—Ordinary of the Mass: High Key, Middle Key, and Lower Key.

“Volume 1” is what you want. The accompaniments are by Achille P. Bragers (LOW KEY), Father Carlo Rossini (MIDDLE KEY), and the Nova Organi Harmonia (HIGH KEY).

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

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Dr Aaron James Last Updated: December 23, 2020

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

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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 difficult to find a failure of imagination greater than that of Carl Czerny.”

— Robert Schumann

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Catholic Texts Transcend”
  • PDF Download • “Jeff’s Mom Joins Our Fundraiser”
  • “Musicam Sacram” (5 March 1967) • Does It Apply?
  • “What Martin Luther Said…”
  • “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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