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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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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

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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

Random Quote

“The first tasks of the new pope will be to restore normality, restore doctrinal clarity in faith and morals, restore a proper respect for the law and ensure that the first criterion for the nomination of bishops is acceptance of the apostolic tradition. Theological expertise and learning are an advantage, not a hinderance for all bishops and especially archbishops.”

— Cardinal Pell (2022) about the pope who will succeed Francis

Recent Posts

  • “What Martin Luther Said…”
  • “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Worship the Lord in Holy Attire
  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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