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Views from the Choir Loft

Seriously?? • An Anglican “Halloween Hymn”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 14, 2021

ESTERDAY, I SUGGESTED seven solutions for getting Catholics to sing again, declaring that we must avoid “goofy, uninspired hymns with extremely predictable rhymes” and posted an elegant hymn translation by Monsignor Knox to demonstrate elevated, dignified, inspiring language. But what would be an example of an uninspired hymn with vapid rhymes? Completely out of the blue, my colleague (Mæstro Fritz) texted me an Anglican “Halloween” hymn this morning:

*  Mp3 • Anglican Hymn: “Is it spooky?”
*  “Is it spooky?” (PDF download)

This Is Real: At first, I thought my friend was pulling my leg—but it turns out this isn’t a spoof. This hymn appears in Anglican and Episcopalian hymnals, and I’m told some people use it as a “Communion Song” on Halloween (October 31st). In my view, such predictable rhymes are unworthy of the House of God; and incidentally there’s no need to “dumb down” language for children. Children respond very well to quality; we must never feed them garbage.

A Better Solution :

Fix The Problem: Instead of “spooky kooky” songs, why not choose hymns from the Brébeuf hymnal, which is the #1 Catholic hymnal available? It contains countless Catholic hymns: Ave Maris Stella, Lux Alma Jesu Mentium, Ad Cenam Agni Providi, A Solis Ortus Cardine, Adeste Fideles, Aeterna Caeli Gloria, Angularis Fundamentum, Caelestis Urbs Jerusalem, Nunc Sancte Nobis Spiritus, Omni Die Dic Mariae, Quicumque Christum Quaeritis, Verbum Supernum Prodiens, Non Abluunt Lymphae Deum, Conditor Alme Siderum, Rebus Creatis Nil Egens, Rex Sempiterne Domine, Corde Natus Ex Parentis, Salve Caput Cruentatum, Sancti Venite, Victis Sibi Cognomina, Agnoscat Omne Saeculum, Hoste Dum Victo Triumphans, Jam Desinant Suspiria, Ave Vivens Hostia, Pange Lingua Gloriosi, and tons more!

Here’s a live recording from the Brébeuf hymnal. It’s an English translation of “Placare Christe” (a.k.a. Christe Redemptor), which is the traditional hymn for the Feast of All Hallows—a.k.a. All Saints’ Day on November 1st:

Here’s the same hymn using a “common tune.” (The Brébeuf hymnal utilizes common tunes in a truly marvelous way.)

The hymns contained in the Brébeuf hymnal are incredibly ancient. The hymn on that video (see above) looked like this in 1053AD:

Why does the Brébeuf hymnal translate the hymns into English, we well as providing the Latin versions? There is nothing strange about this! Catholics have been doing this for a millenium. Here’s that same hymn (see above) translated into the vernacular—which at that time was “Anglo-Saxon”—about 400 years before Martin Luther was born:

Conclusion: The fast and painless way to improve the music at your church is to pick up a copy of the Brébeuf hymnal.

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: All Hallows' Day, All Hallows' Eve, Anglican Spooky Hymn, Christe Redemptor All Saints, Feast of All Saints, Non Abluunt Lymphae Deum, Roman Catholic Halloween Last Updated: October 14, 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

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The pope regrets that this trade in African slaves, that he believed having ceased, is still exercised in some regions and even more cruel way. He begs and begs the King of Portugal that it implement all its authority and wisdom to extirpate this unholy and abominable shame.”

— ‘Pope Pius VII, writing to the King of Portugal’

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