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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Booklet • First Sunday of Advent Vespers (Organ Accompaniment) — Draft Copy

Jeff Ostrowski · November 29, 2021

YSTERICALLY UGLY. Those would probably be the best words to describe the organ accompaniment booklet I cobbled together for the First Sunday of Advent. But this season is tough, because Vespers changes each week during Advent. Our entire congregation sings Vespers each Sunday. I accompany most of the ceremony on the organ, but I always make sure that at least one psalm is sung without accompaniment—so the people can hear what “pure” choral music sounds like when they make it by themselves!

This may be an ugly booklet, but it got the job done yesterday:

*  PDF Download • Vespers for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Organ Accomp.)
—This is a very ugly booklet, but it got the job done!

Strange Irony: People have commented how weird it seems that the “Extraordinary Form” communities—i.e. those who use the Missále Antíquius of 1962—are the only ones actually following what Vatican II mandated. After all, the Second Vatican Council declared: “the Latin language is to be retained by clerics in the divine office” (SC §101). And how many parishes know that? Furthermore, how many parishes realize that Vatican II solemnly declared:

“It is, moreover, fitting that the office, both in choir and in common, be sung when possible. Pastors of souls should see to it that the chief hours, especially Vespers, are celebrated in common in church on Sundays and the more solemn feasts. And the laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office, either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually.”
—The Second Vatican Council (SC §100)

Nerd Note: When it comes to the 2nd Psalm—remember we are speaking here of Second Vespers for the First Sunday of Advent—some folks have started adding Tone 8G* to each verse of the psalm, instead of just the very last verse. This is very confusing. Perhaps somebody who is really smart could email me and explain this? As far as I can tell, 100% of the older books have tone 8G*—but only add the “extra note” on the very last verse before the antiphon is repeated. I am speaking of books such as: Nóva órgani harmónia ad graduále júxta editiónem vaticánam (Volume VIII); Proprium De Tempore (Julius Bas); Vesperale romanum d’aprés l’édition vaticane (Dr. Peter Wagner); Vesperale Romanum (Paris, 8 dec 1912); and so forth.

What Does It Sound Like? If you want to hear what it sounds like when our parish sings Vespers, I provide a video below. If you desire to follow the video with a PDF score, click on this article; both booklets (Congregation + Organist) are provided there. When you listen to this video, remember that these are not trained singers. It’s just “regular” people from our five Sunday Masses who decide to show up on a particular day and sing:

By the way, organists can do really cool things with Vespers; e.g. here is a “Counter Melody” Video.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: 1st Sunday of Advent, Dr Peter Wagner Gregorian, First Sunday of Advent, Julius Bas Gregorian, Missale Antiquius, Organ Accompaniments, Vespers Organist Scores Last Updated: November 29, 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

    Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
    As I explained in my article posted earlier today, Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland is actually a Catholic tune (in spite of what some have claimed). The volunteer choir I direct sang that beautiful ADVENT melody last Sunday, and I invite you to listen to the live recording. It will get better the more we sing it.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Message from the Vice-President!
    The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn
    A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!”   Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“If the right is given to African tribes to include their pagan traditions in the liturgy, I think the same should also be given to the rite of a thousand year-old Christian Church, based on a much older Roman tradition.”

— Professor László Dobszay

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