Views from the Choir Loft

“Sample Pages” • Campion Missal (2022 edition)

Jeff Ostrowski · February 1, 2022

ELOW, YOU CAN download a “summary” describing five fantastic features of the Campion Missal, Third Edition. You can also download sample pages from this marvelous pew book (672 pages long). I’m not an employee of Sophia Institute Press, but something tells me they will begin accepting pre-orders before long. With regard to the “extra” communion verses ¹ mentioned on that sheet, we have spoken of those before—and I will have a lot more to say later! A brand new alphabet (!!!) was designed for this publication; scroll to the bottom to see several letters.

* PDF Summary • FIVE FANTASTIC FEATURES
—Sophia Institute Press gave us permission to release this.

*  PDF Download • COLOR SECTION (Sample Page)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Good Friday, 1962)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Holy Thursday, 1962)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Holy Week, 1950)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Palm Sunday, 1962)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Cantus Gregorianus)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Feast of Corpus Christi)
*  PDF Download • B&W (Proper Prefaces)
*  PDF Download • B&W — “Lauda Sion”
*  PDF Download • B&W — “Tantum Ergo”
*  PDF Download • B&W — “Dies Irae”

Examples from the Saint Edmund Campion alphabet (©2022):

What We Need: This third edition includes breathtaking images of old liturgical books—placed right alongside the Mass texts—from the 7th century, 8th century, 9th century, 10th century, 11th century, and so forth. This is very powerful. And it’s precisely what’s needed at this moment, when the Missale Vetustum has come under attack in certain circles.

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 If you want to see some examples of the “extra” verses for Qui Manducat (from the 9th Sunday after Pentecost) please click here and scroll towards the bottom.

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

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).

PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”

Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Sarum’ Good Friday?

Plainsong of the Roman Rite has many variants—i.e. slight ‘variations’ or ‘alterations’ made to the ancient melodies. Variants often thrive in particular religious orders. Likewise, before Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, Gregorian Chant variants were frequently associated with individual cathedrals in England: Hereford, Lincoln, Salisbury, and so forth. In the early 20th century, the (Anglican) organist at Westminster Abbey married “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” to this beautiful variant melody from England. Those who sing Gregorian Chant on Good Friday will recognize the melody. What do you think of this pairing?

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”

Gustav Adolf Merkel (d. 1885) was a German organist, teacher, and composer. Although a Lutheran himself, he held the appointment at the (Roman Catholic) Cathedral of Dresden from 1864 until his death. You can download his Organ Postlude in E-Flat, which I like very much. He has an interesting way of marking the pedal notes. What do you think?

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026

How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”

For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.

—Jeff Ostrowski