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Views from the Choir Loft

Do You Know This Easter Hymn?

Jeff Ostrowski · April 20, 2021

E UNDERSTAND liturgical concepts best when we’ve personally witnessed them or grown up with them. Reading about them in a book isn’t the same. That is why it’s difficult for Catholics in 2021 to comprehend how brief the Communion Rite used to be. Enemies of the Extraordinary Form often refer to the “25-minute Low Mass” in the “bad old days” of Catholicism. They fail to realize that Holy Mass is much shorter when the people don’t receive Holy Communion. 1 We spoke about vernacular hymns at the Extraordinary Form High Mass already. (Be sure not to skip the comment by Father Fortescue in 1917, where he said that—technically speaking—nothing prevents the distribution of Holy Communion at any Mass.)

When Surprises Occur :

We have six Masses each Sunday, and one of our priests had to be out of town last Sunday. That left only one priest to distribute Holy Communion (since one of our Masses is in Ventura). Holy Communion took about 30 minutes! We were scrambling to find hymns. For at least two of the Masses, we must have sung about 50 verses from seven different hymns—at least it felt that way! I can’t wait until we can have rehearsals again, so we can learn more Latin motets.

In the past, we have used this very common version of an Easter hymn. You probably know that one. That one takes the text of “Regina Caeli” (which was originally a Christmas song, believe it or not) and matches it to “Regina Caeli Jubila.” But yesterday, we did the other version found in the Brébeuf hymnal—which is a direct translation of the original Latin. Do you know it?

We also sang #39 from the Brébeuf hymnal, a superb translation of “Ad Cœnam Agni Providi” by Robert Campbell of Skerrington. Mr. Campbell was an Anglican who later converted to the True Faith. I think he’d be pleased with this setting:

*  Mp3 Download • HARMONIZED PLAINSONG
—Ad Cenam Agni Providi sung to ORIENTIS PARTIBUS.

You will notice that setting is basically harmonized plainsong, which I hope to discuss more in a future post. In the past, we have touched upon that subject a little bit.

The choir was sight-reading in that recording, and (needless to say) there are things that could be improved—but that’s okay! When we are allowed to have rehearsals again, we’ll have items we can work on! The important thing is that we are teaching and training singers who will eventually “take the reins” and continue the tradition. All for the glory of God!


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   I experienced such Masses—where the priest alone receives Holy Communion—when the Archbishop of Los Angeles prohibited lay people from receiving Holy Communion last year, due to Covid-19. If you doubt what I am saying about Catholics receiving Holy Communion outside of Mass, click here and scroll down.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Coenam Agni Providi, Harmonized Gregorian Chant, High Mass with Vernacular, Regina Caeli Jubila, Regina Caeli Laetare Last Updated: April 22, 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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

To the extent that the new sacred music is to serve the liturgical celebrations of the various churches, it can and must draw from earlier forms — especially from Gregorian chant — a higher inspiration, a uniquely sacred quality, a genuine sense of what is religious.

— Pope John Paul II (June 1980)

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