Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Sanctus for Three Voices” (Soprano, Alto, and Bass)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 6, 2021

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Harmonized Plainsong :

Today I would like to speak about the concept of harmonized Gregorian chant. In the past, we have seen this with “O Filii Et Filiae” by Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel. You can hear a recording, or you can download the score if you go scroll down to #5909.

Here is a “harmonized chant” by the successor of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel, a wonderful composer named Monsignor Jules Vyverman. We were only allowed to have one rehearsal for Easter Sunday (thanks to Mdme. Covid-19) so we quickly put together this SANCTUS for three voices:

* PDF Download • “SANCTUS” for Soprano, Alto, and Bass
—A setting Monsignor Jules Vyverman.

Richard Rice Kyrie VIII :

Another fantastic example of harmonized plainsong is the Mass VIII (Missa de Angelis) setting by Richard Rice. Thanks to generous permission from the composer (21 June 2015), you can download the score and rehearsal videos at #4781. Moreover, Mr. Rice has composed a complete setting of all the movements to Mass VIII.

Here is the live recording from Easter Sunday in Los Angeles.

Of course I am biased, but I really feel there are some glorious moments here—in spite of the fact it was done with only one rehearsal. I’m so proud of the way the singers have responded to the draconian restrictions of Covid-19.

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

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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).

“Music List” • 19th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10 August 2025). 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 feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

This Sunday’s Communion Antiphon

This coming Sunday—10 August 2025—is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). The COMMUNION ANTIPHON is really gorgeous, and two of its features are worth mentioning. First of all, the Gospel reading assigned is from Saint Luke, whereas the the antiphon—although it matches the account—comes from Saint Matthew. (If anyone can point to a similar example, please notify me.) Furthermore, if you look at the authentic Gregorian Chant version posted on the feasts website, you’ll notice that it’s MODE III but ends on the ‘wrong’ note. A comparable instance of such a ‘transposed’ chant would be KYRIE IV.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly

Using “Ye” vs. “You” is rather tricky, because it depends upon which era one is trying to recreate—if that makes any sense. In other words, the rules haven’t always been the same for these two. Nevertheless, Father Philip George Caraman (the legendary Jesuit scholar) gives us a masterclass using Saint Luke’s Gospel. Father Caraman was close friends with Monsignor Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, and Sir Alec Guinness.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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