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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

Brave Schola Director Posts Live Recording

Jeff Ostrowski · October 1, 2021

NOW THIS: I could not survive as a choirmaster without the phenomenal hymnal we use at our parish. We spend so much time working on Renaissance Mass settings, contemporary polyphony, and plainsong that we don’t have rehearsal time remaining for hymnody. But here’s the awesome part: the Brébeuf hymnal makes it possible—because of the unprecedented method used in its choral supplement—for singers to add parts, even though many have never sung in a choir before.

Below is a live recording from a few days ago. Notice how the voices keep splitting off into harmony (with each subsequent verse), something only possible thanks to the revolutionary way the score is printed in the Brébeuf choral supplement:

Not A Perfect Recording: I don’t claim that recording is perfect … but for a volunteer choir which is sight-reading, I’m quite pleased. We’re on the right track; and choirs need delightful, bright, fun pieces like this one. This beautiful tune—known as “ROCKINGHAM”—is worth singing, worth learning, and worthy of the temple. For the record, this melody appears in reputable Catholic hymnals. For instance, it’s Number 72 in the London Oratory Hymnal (as a hymn for Lent). In the New Westminster Hymnal it’s Number 73, paired with a hymn by Saint Thomas Aquinas (as a hymn for the Holy Eucharist).

Restoration: The other day I spoke about the Second Vatican Council’s missed opportunity vis-à-vis revision of the hymns. The Council declared—Sacrosanctum Concilium §93—that “the hymns are to be restored to their original form.” Sadly, what happened too often was elimination of verses. The ancient hymn for All Saints (1 November) is a good example. When Vatican II “restored” this hymn, a verse was deleted. However, the Brébeuf hymnal always gives you the entire hymn, with no verses deleted. It is without question the hymnal with the most textual authenticity; yet few these days seem to care about textual integrity.

Here’s a live recording of “Placáre Christe Sérvulis” (a.k.a. “Christe Redemptor”) from a few days ago:

Common Hymn Melodies: That hymn is number 161 in the Brébeuf hymnal. Notice how it utilizes what I have spoken about frequently—something absolutely necessary for choirmasters wishing to make headway in today’s environment—namely Common Hymn Melodies.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Christe Redemptor All Saints, Common Hymn Melodies, Feast of All Saints, Placare Christe Servulis, Rockingham Hymn, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Urbanite Hymn Reform Last Updated: October 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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President’s Corner

    “Entrance Chant” • 23rd Sunday (Ordin. Time)
    This coming Sunday, 7 September 2025, is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). You can download the “Entrance Chant,” conveniently located at the feasts website. I also recorded a rehearsal video for it (which is freely available at the same site). The Communion Chant includes gorgeous verses in FAUXBOURDON. I attempted to create a rehearsal video for it, and it has been posted at the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • 3 September
    According to the MISSALE RECENS, the Feast of Saint Gregory the Great occurs on 3 September (the date Gregory became pope). Formerly, his feast was celebrated during Lent, on 12 March (the day Gregory died). In Latin, the feast is: Die 3 Septembris: S. Gregorii Magni, papæ et Ecclesiæ doctoris. you can download the Latin Introit, the Latin Offertory, as well as the Communion with gorgeous fauxbordon in English. Abbat Joseph Pothier—along with Dom André Mocquereau, Bishop Laurent Janssens, Father De Santi, and other Gregorian superstars—sang with a choir of 1,210 voices (from 36 different Roman colleges) under the direction of Monsignor Antonio Rella. That Mass included the “Alma cohors,” a special SEQUENCE for Saint Gregory…much to the dismay of those who believe in strict adherence to rubrics. The Mass on 11 April 1904 was celebrated by Pope Saint Pius X, at the great GREGORIAN CONGRESS held in Rome “to mark the 13th Centenary of the death of Saint Gregory the Great.” Someday, there’s much I’d love to say about this congress. We even have recordings (!) from it (made in 1904 by the Gramophone Company) with choirs conducted by Dom Pothier, Dom Mocquereau, Dom Janssens, Monsignor Rella, Baron Kanzler, and others.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “7 September 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 is called: “Professor Bouyer’s Regret.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“We must say it plainly: the Roman rite as we knew it exists no more. It has gone. Some walls of the structure have fallen, others have been altered—we can look at it as a ruin or as the partial foundation of a new building. Think back, if you remember it, to the Latin sung High Mass with Gregorian chant. Compare it with the modern post-Vatican II Mass. It is not only the words, but also the tunes and even certain actions that are different. In fact it is a different liturgy of the Mass.”

— Fr. Joseph Gelineau (1978)

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