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

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Views from the Choir Loft

“The Fifteen Best Catholic Hymns” • Wait……

Jeff Ostrowski · April 21, 2021

EVERAL YEARS AGO, in a traditionalist publication, a certain author created what he called: A List Of The Fifteen Best Hymns. He included the following: (1) At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing; (2) The Lamb’s High Banquet We Await. Do you see the problem? If that author had purchased the Brébeuf hymnal, he would have known those are both the same hymn! They are English translations of Ad Cœnam Agni Providi (also known as Ad Regias Agni Dapes after 1631AD). It makes no sense to create a list of “best hymns” containing duplicate entries. Willard Romney is not a different senator than Mitt Romney. John Ellis Bush is not a different governor than Jeb Bush. Eldrick Woods is not a different golfer than Tiger Woods.

Our Core Problem?

The author claimed he was an expert on hymnody—yet he was guilty of a rookie’s error. I sometimes wonder if church musicians make the mistake of talking about the sacred liturgy in ways the average Catholic cannot understand. In other words, we “assume” Catholics know things they actually don’t. We “assume” folks in the pews understand concepts which are—to be completely honest—quite complex for those who haven’t dedicated their lives to church music. We “assume” Catholics know the difference between a COLLECT and an INTROIT. We “assume” Catholics realize 30+ different translations exist for each Latin Breviary hymn. We “assume” people realize what 88 88 meter is, or 86 86, or 87 87 87.

Consider this live recording from last Sunday. How many people know what happens at marker 0:23—in terms of what the voices do?

Failure To Communicate Well

Church musicians: Is this what we’re doing wrong? Do we need to start speaking about the sacred liturgy in what we would consider painfully obvious language? Are be boring our potential students because we “assume” they have the same command of these subjects as we do?

If an “expert” of hymns doesn’t even realize he’s listing the same text twice, what can we reasonably expect from the “average” Catholics in the pews? (I hate talking about “average” Catholics, but hopefully you get the point.)

Do we too often fall into the trap of speaking to people, not at the level they are, but at the level at which we desire them to be?

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

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Hymn Meters, Hymnbooks, Jean de Brebeuf Hymnal Last Updated: April 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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

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

The union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who are separated from it, for in the past they have unhappily left it.

— Pope Pius XI (6 January 1928)

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