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Views from the Choir Loft

SATB Hymns • “Consors Paterni Luminis” (Translated to English)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 28, 2021

E LOST AN ENTIRE year of rehearsals due to the way California’s government responded to Covid-19. I suspect we will begin rehearsals in August—and I look forward to working with the choir members. One good way to help a volunteer choir improve is singing hymns; they learn to listen to one another, and they learn to balance the harmonies. Even though we did not have rehearsals, we attempted alternating between unison + SATB parts last Sunday. Essentially, we sang each verse once with just Soprano—then we had the full choir come in SATB. Here’s a live recording.

This is certainly not a perfect recording. (As I said, we lost a whole year of rehearsals.) However, I really like the effect of the SATB parts coming in around marker 0:20. I think the contrast is wonderful. The hymn is #851 from Brébeuf hymnal, an English translation of “Consors Paterni Luminis.”

We can do anything we want with hymn harmonies, due to the unique and awesome way the Brébeuf hymnal printed the Choral Supplement…with each verse written out. It’s utterly astounding to me that this had never been done prior to the release of the Brébeuf collection.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Affordable Hymnal for Catholic Parishes Last Updated: July 28, 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

When the matter is thus regarded, an assertion which is being made today, not only by laymen but also at times by certain theologians and priests and spread about by them, ought to be rejected as an erroneous opinion: namely, that the offering of one Mass, at which a hundred priests assist with religious devotion, is the same as a hundred Masses celebrated by a hundred priests. That is not true.

— Pope Pius XII (2 November 1954)

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