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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

Church Musicians: The Revolution Starts Today!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 24, 2021

OW IS IT POSSIBLE that all the good priests—and there are tons of them!—have not been converted to the authentic music of the Catholic Church? Does anyone really believe most priests want goofy, uninspired, secular tunes like this, accompanied by rhythmic instruments such as drums? Does anyone really believe most priests feel such music is appropriate for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? I don’t believe that for a second.

The Real Problem: I suspect most priests have never heard decent choral music in real life. Choral music—let’s say, as presented by a choir of 30+ singers—is something physical and must be experienced in real life. I suspect that when priests have heard plainsong, it was sung very slowly and came across as boring…instead of being a delight. I suspect that when priests have heard polyphony, it was probably performed badly—or perhaps by a small group of soloists rather than a full choir (with choral vowels and proper blending). Many priests weren’t given the privilege of musical training when they were young; our culture no longer values it.

One Way To Start: In addition to plainsong and polyphony, an excellent way to build strong choirs is by utilizing excellent hymnody. These melodies teach your choir members how to listen to one another—and they’re a delight to sing. However, make sure it’s Catholic hymnody, not Protestant stuff. The best source by far is the Saint Brébeuf hymnal, published by SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS. There are hundreds of rehearsal videos (produced exclusively for the Brébeuf hymnal) which are free online. Everyone should take advantage of these!

Here’s an ancient Catholic hymn (Ad Coenam Agni Providi) translated into English. This hymn is appropriate during Holy Communion:

Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #036.

Everyone should be
taking advantage of those
free rehearsal videos—
for each individual voice.

Common Melodies: Once your choir members learn that hymn (SALZBURG)—taking advantage of the rehearsal videos for each individual voice—they can sing 4-5 other hymns in the Brébeuf hymnal because it’s one of the “common hymn melodies” (which we have already spoken about). Vladimir Horowitz used to say: “Music is already difficult; why make it harder? Better to make it easier…” Don’t feel guilty sending your choir members those rehearsal videos. They save time, and you can use that time speaking about choir procedures, working on choral vowels, working on proper diction, teaching them to read music notation, or in 1,000 other ways.

The Revolution Has Begun: Some Catholic authors gladly write a zillion articles complaining about the terrible state of the liturgy in the Church Church; yet they won’t lift a finger in real life to make a difference. Let’s make a difference! The revolution starts today! Let’s go out and share the treasures of the Catholic Faith! Let’s form more choirs! Let’s train more singers!

Haters Gonna Hate: Don’t pay attention to those who complain about the sacred liturgy. Your job is not to entertain; nor is your job to please everyone. Some people are evil. Some people are dangerous. Some people are foolish. Some people haven’t matured yet. Some people haven’t yet been converted to Jesus Christ in their hearts. Some people haven’t yet discovered how beautiful the sacred liturgy is. Don’t worry about the naysayers and the “Negative Nancy” types; hold fast to our holy traditions! If you please everyone, you’re doing something wrong.

We Know What’s Right: Some people say they hate Chopin. Some people say they hate Bach. Some idiots say Palestrina and Guerrero and Victoria were “not very great.” Some people say the Gothic Cathedrals are not beautiful. Don’t pay attention to them. I wish I could say that everyone is a nice person. I wish I could say that everyone has the right intentions. I wish I could say that everyone’s opinion is correct. I wish I could say that immoral people (adulterers, liars, murderers, thieves) don’t exist—but they do! Do what’s right, say your prayers, offer each day to Jesus Christ, and hold your head high!

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Ad Cenam Agni Providi, Ad Regias Agni Dapes, At the Lamb’s high feast we sing, Common Hymn Melodies, The Catholic Hymnal, Traditional Catholic Hymnals Last Updated: August 24, 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The recitation of the Office of the Dead, the Christmas Office, the spectacle of the days of Holy Week, the sublime chant of the Exultet, beside which the most intoxicating accents of Sophocles and Pindar seemed to me to be insignificant—all of this overwhelmed me with respect and joy, with gratitude, repentance, and adoration!”

— Paul Claudel (1913)

Recent Posts

  • Why A “Fugue” Here?
  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)

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