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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

    “Equal Voices” Choir Pieces
    My colleague, CORRINNE MAY, has posted some delightful compositions for equal voices: that is, choirs consisting of all men or all women. Included there are settings of the “Ave Maria” and “Tantum Ergo.” They strike me as relatively simple and not excessively lengthy. (In other words, within reach of volunteer singers.) Even better, all the scores have been made available as instant PDF downloads, completely free of charge. Bravo!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 26 October 2025, which is the 30th 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 top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —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
    “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

Random Quote

“It is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes

Recent Posts

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  • PDF Downloads • Four (4) Simple Pieces in Harmony for Men’s Choirs
  • Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)

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