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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.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

“Part 2 of 3” • Guerrero Kyrie for Our Lady

Jeff Ostrowski · June 7, 2021

NOWLEDGE GAINED by experience: nothing else can replace this. A presenter could talk for 30 years about “how to train a choir well”—but even that would not replace the actual experience of standing in front of a choir. Anyone with an internet connection can pontificate about choral music—yet almost instantly I can tell if the pontificator has ever stood before a choir in real life. Those who have experience conducting amateur choirs realize that choir rehearsal is like entering a “time warp.” Time moves so quickly, it’s as if rehearsal is over as soon as it begins!

Practical Application: Because of this reality, there’s limited time to work on choral vowels, blending, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, pronunciation, and so forth. Therefore, we often follow the 1958 document of Pope Pius XII, which wisely stated: “In general, it is better to do something well on a small scale than to attempt something elaborate without sufficient resources to do it properly.” Of course, if you have infinite rehearsal time, it would be different—but how many of us have sufficient rehearsal time?

Part 2 of 3: On 23 May 2021, I spoke about a possible way forward in Part 1. Now, I am happy to announce that the “Christe” section is ready—and it is one of the most beautiful compositions I have ever heard, although it’s surprisingly brief:

*  PDF • Father Guerrero “Kyrie Part 2”
—Taken from “De Beata Virgine II” — Edition: Roma 1582AD.

Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #63503.

Notice the very clever way Father Guerrero uses the plainsong motif from Kyrie IX:

Until my choir learns Part 3, we are singing Part 1 (“Kyrie”) twice, Part 2 (“Christe”) twice, and Part 1 (“Kyrie”) once. Please see the link I mentioned above—viz. Part 1—if you are having trouble understanding how we sometimes learn these compositions “piecemeal.”

Please go explore #63503 — I think you will really appreciate what’s there, and also Part 1 is conveniently located right above it. Please go there!

Click here to learn about a special portrait of Father Guerrero that Corpus Christi Watershed commissioned from a Russian artist in 2016:

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

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Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Easy Polyphony For Amateurs, Francisco Guerrero Composer, Missa De Beata Virgine II, Piecemeal Polyphony Last Updated: February 26, 2022

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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 22nd in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 31 August 2025, which is the 22nd 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 spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “The Worm That Dieth Not”
    My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin with reflections on the sacred liturgy and church music. In my most recent article, I discuss “The Worm That Dieth Not.” At this website, you can access it conveniently; simply scroll down to the one dated 31 August 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“The liturgy needed reform by 1965; there was no call for dismantling it. It was intended that the vernacular would enhance the Latin, not supplant it. It was not, emphatically, the mind of the Council Fathers to jettison Gregorian Chant, or to encourage the banal secularization of Church music, so as now to surpass in crudity the worst aberrations of the Howling Pentecostals.”

— Most Rev’d Robert J. Dwyer, Archbishop of Portland (9 July 1971)

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