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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

(Ladies Singing Low) • “Adding Fifths Above”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 21, 2021

ISHOP RUDOLF GRABER, who participated in the Second Vatican Council, asked in 1985: “Where do the conciliar texts speak of communion in the hand, for example, or where do they enjoin the so-called altar facing the people, which is scant testimony to that ‘giving perfect glory to God’ which the liturgy constitution says (paragraph 5) is the goal and purpose of worship? The answer is: Nowhere.” From the testimony of Father Robert Skeris, we learn that Graber went on to mention other items in the same category: elimination of the subdiaconate and the four minor orders; the monotonous enumeration of “Sundays in ordinary time”; de facto abandonment of Latin as liturgical language of the western Church; elimination of the second imposition of hands during priestly ordination, and many others. If Bishop Graber (1903-1992) were alive, he might be surprised to see that so many “pre-conciliar” items—Communion under one species and replying AMEN, congregational singing, extraordinary ministers, the congregational Pax, and so forth—have now been forbidden by the same bishops who previously said such items were absolutely crucial.

Covid-19 has caused choirmasters enormous difficulties. Here in Los Angeles, we have been “locked down” since March: restaurants closed, gyms closed, parks closed, nightly police curfew, and so on. There are constant changes to what we are permitted to do. Last Sunday, we sang some plainsong accompanied by the organ. Here’s an excerpt:

*  Mp3 Download • Kyrie IV (excerpt)
—Organ Accompaniment taken from the Saint Edmund Campion Missal.

We tried to add a little “solemnity” to this piece by having the ladies sing a perfect fifth above on every other verse, as you can (marker 0:22) hear:

(That style mimics “organum” but—despite what some erroneously claim—it isn’t. Authentic organum is a mixture of fifths, fourths, and octaves.)

When Does Christmas End?

When does the season of Christmas end? Dom Prosper Guéranger was quite clear: “We apply the name of CHRISTMAS to the forty days, which begin with the Nativity of our Lord, December 25th, and end with the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, February 2nd.” In my article on the difficult Christmas feasts, we spoke about how the Consilium ad Exsequendam Constitutionem de Sacra Liturgia [“Commission to implement the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy”] could not decide when the Christmas season ended. Bishop Graber spoke of the monotonous enumeration of “Sundays in ordinary time”—that’s because prior to the Second Vatican Council, Sundays had a “marked character” (either post Epiphaniam or post Pentecosten). In the Ordinary Form, “tempus per annum” begins after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and many people think shortening the season of Christmas like that is an impoverishment. As far as the Extraordinary Form is concerned, the season of Christmas lasts until 2 February.

We are not allowed to sing English during the High Mass, so we often sing Latin words to the melodies in the Brébeuf hymnal. Sometimes the Brébeuf Hymnal “demonstrates” how this can be done by providing English and Latin:

Here’s how that piece sounds—recognize the tune?

*  Mp3 Download • Brébeuf Hymn #761
—We are not allowed to sing English during the High Mass.

When it comes to great hymns for Christmas, Epiphany, and Ordinary Time (“per annum”), the Brébeuf hymnal is peerless. If that book had been available when I started as a Church musician, my life would have been so much easier and perhaps I wouldn’t have the physical problems I currently do, which were a result of extreme stress. I cannot think of any Catholic hymnal that comes close to the Brébeuf in terms of quality…it truly is on a pedestal.

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

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Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 21, 2021

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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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President’s Corner

    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“The banality and vulgarity of the [ICEL] translations which have ousted the sonorous Latin and little Greek are of a supermarket quality which is quite unacceptable.”

— Sir Alec Guinness (1985)

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  • PDF Download • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) for your Children’s Choir
  • Latin Liturgy Association
  • Important Quote by a Church Musician

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