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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Glory To God” (Three Voices)

Jeff Ostrowski · January 12, 2022

ATHER Cristóbal de Morales joined the papal choir on 1 September 1535, the very same day Pope Paul III commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel altar wall. Later, Morales said that Paul III personally chose him for the choir. No Spanish composer of the 16th century was more lauded during his lifetime—and for two hundred years after his death—than Morales. I personally believe his student, Father Francisco Guerrero, was an even greater composer; but it’s not really fair to compare them, since Father Morales must be viewed as “way ahead of his time,” whereas Father Guerrero had the benefit of discoveries Morales made.1

Less than 0.001%: Choirmasters who direct small choirs are always looking for great repertoire. The following incorporates a tiny little musical excerpt pillaged from a much larger work by Father Morales. Indeed, it represents less than 0.001% of his total output; but even the longest journey begins with a single step. Once your choir knows the piece, encourage them to read directly from the 14th-century notation (included in the PDF file) because this often heightens musicality.

Listen to a live recording our 9:00am “small choir” made last Sunday:

Listen to a short excerpt of the polyphonic section:

*  Mp3 Download • SHORT EXCERPT

Download the file: You can freely download the PDF file—along with rehearsal videos for each individual voice—by clicking on #55315 and searching for “55315.”

This article is part of an ongoing (loosely connected)
series called: Repertoire for Small Choirs

 


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Father Morales first began to publish in 1539; two years later he was called “the most excellent Morales” and the next two decades saw forty (!) different publications containing his compositions appear at such diverse centers as Antwerp, Augsburg, Lyons, Milan, Nuremberg, Rome, Salamanca, Valladolid, Venice, and Wittenberg.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Catholic Composer Cristobal de Morales, Pieces For Small Choirs Last Updated: January 14, 2022

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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

PDF • “Organ Interludes” (Manuals Only)

In graduate school, one is taught a valuable lesson: if you emphasize everything, nothing is emphasized. In other words, putting every other word in bold or italic (or both) wrecks your paper. I never to use the word “best”—but today I make an exception. The book of organ interludes released today by my colleague is without question the best I’ve ever seen. Including Dom Gregory Murray, Flor Peeters, Jacques Lemmens, John Lee, C. H. Rinck, Dom Alphege Shebbeare, Oreste Ravanello, Louis Niedermeyer, Eugène Gigout, Luigi Bottazzo, Johann Sebastian Bach, and many others. Learn more by clicking here.

—Jeff Ostrowski
For the Upcoming Choir Season!

Last week, I posted an SATB choral setting of the SANCTUS in a ‘contemporary’ style. You might want to consider this piece for two reasons: (1) It’s extremely brief; (2) Free rehearsal videos are available for each individual part. The piece is by Father Lhoumeau.

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • “Sunday Vespers” (22 pages)

When an organist accompanies Vespers, there is no time to think. It’s one thing after another: Bam – Bam – Bam. And that’s what makes Vespers difficult to accompany; there’s hardly even time to check the key signature for each piece! Therefore, although it’s far from perfect, I’m releasing this 22-page booklet:

PDF Download • SUNDAY VESPERS ACCOMPANIMENT

As time goes on, I will explain why I believe this booklet is important, my hopes for it, and why I selected the official edition, directly from the Vesperale Romanum. In spite of its imperfections, creating this (draft) booklet required much more effort than I had anticipated.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The claim that the bishop or the priest originally celebrated “versus populum” is a legend, which Otto Nussbaum (d. 1999) originally did a great deal to spread.

— Dr. Helmut Hoping (University of Freiburg)

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