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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

“What is Vespers?” • Live Rec. + 100% Scrolling Score

Jeff Ostrowski · August 2, 2021

EVER. Traditional Catholic music will never be completely lost. No matter how many “progressive” liturgists attempt to hide these treasures, such efforts will ultimately fail. Consider the case of England, where Catholics who refused to deny Transubstantiation were brutally murdered. In the end, that attempt failed; currently more Catholics go to Church in Britain than do Anglicans. Even if “progressive” liturgists get rid of traditional music, Catholics discover it when they attend college. After all, no serious university teaches the music of Marty Haugen, David Haas, or Dan Schutte. At the university, students are taught high quality music: Guerrero, Palestrina, Machaut, Fauré, Liszt, Haydn, Manchicourt, De Rore, Scarlatti, Victoria, Gabrieli, Mozart, Rheinberger, and so forth.

*  PDF Download • VESPERS FOR SINGERS (18 pages)

*  PDF Download • VESPERS FOR ORGANISTS (29 pages)

The following video demonstrates Vespers in a very clear way:

What You Hear: That’s a live recording from yesterday. Those are not professional singers; it’s our congregation singing. Vespers had been forbidden for more than a year—due to Covid—but we are back. More than half the congregation had never attended Vespers before. We received wonderful messages from them, saying how marvelous it was in their opinion. One wrote to us as follows: “I am a new parishioner and attended for the first time. It was an amazing experience. I will continue to participate as often as possible.”

Hidden Treasure: How many Catholics know what Vespers is? The simplest definition would be: “Five Psalms, a Hymn, and the Magnificat.” But how many Catholics today can give that answer?

Want to hear the Sacred Music Symposium singing Vespers? Click on this article by Dr. Calabrese.

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

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Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: ORDO ANTIQUUS, usus antiquior, Vespers, Vespers Organist Scores Last Updated: August 9, 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

By far, the event that caused the biggest increase in requests for indults from the morning Mass requirement was the Second World War. The unusual requirements of providing Mass during wartime led to some unique legislation accommodating the time of Mass. Already in 1940, Pope Pius XII issued a motu proprio addressing the situation of holding Mass in countries where a “Black-out” had been ordered.

— Father Shawn P. Tunink

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