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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

PDF Download • “Pater Noster” by Van Nuffel (1937)

Jeff Ostrowski · August 27, 2021

ARDINAL MERCIER told the young Fulton J. Sheen something he never forgot: “Tear up your notes at the end of each semester.” When teachers don’t learn new things, they stagnate. Throughout my career, I have tried to follow the advice of Cardinal Mercier: I’m always looking for new music. I don’t teach the same pieces over and over and over. And below is a fascinating composition I discovered a few years ago when I was searching for repertoire for the Sacred Music Symposium which is held annually in Los Angeles (although it is currently postponed due to Covid-19).

“Our Father” SATB: Monsignor Van Nuffel was ordained by Cardinal Mercier in 1907. Thirty years later, he published this magnificent choral setting of the LORD’S PRAYER. He breaks many ‘proper’ rules of voice-leading, yet somehow creates an utter masterpiece. I suspect it was sung during the Divine Office; it would not have been sung during the Mass of the 1930s. You can download the piece in two different keys:

*  PDF Download • PATER NOSTER — “G Aeolian”
—Transposed to a higher (more comfortable) key.

*  PDF Download • PATER NOSTER — “F Aeolian”
—In the original key, for choirs with very low basses.

Everyone should be
taking advantage of these
free rehearsal videos—
for each individual voice:

EQUAL VOICES :   Lower Key   •   Higher Key

SOPRANO :   Lower Key   •   Higher Key

ALTO :   Lower Key   •   Higher Key

TENOR :   Lower Key   •   Higher Key

BASS :   Lower Key   •   Higher Key

Below is a picture of Cardinal Mercier in 1926. From what I can tell, the inscription says: The Most Eminent and Reverend Desideratus Joseph Cardinal Mercier (in French: Désiré-Joseph Mercier), the Archbishop of Malines.

From a Latin scholar:

Eminentissimus ac Reverendissimus Dominus Desiderius Josephus Cardinalis Mercier Archiepiscopus Mechlinensis aet. a. LXXV

Which, being translated, is:

The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord Désiré-Joseph Cardinal Mercier Archbishop of Mechelen (or: Malines) in the 75th year of his age

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: Canon Jules Van Nuffel d 1953, Pater Noster Music Last Updated: September 1, 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

    “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 chants of the Proper of the Mass—that is, the Introit, Gradual, Offertory, Communion—in sung Masses may be chanted in the vernacular to melodies legitimately approved.”

— Statement (20 April 1964) by the Consilium, the group Paul VI put in charge of inventing the New Mass

Recent Posts

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