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).

Season’s End Repertoire

Looking at the REPERTOIRE SHEET until the end of the choral season, I see that I’ve fallen behind schedule. (The last three months have been extraordinarily busy.) As you know, I have been providing organ harmonies for all the ENTRANCE CHANTS—as well as rehearsal videos—and you can see I’m behind where I planned to be. Now I must make up lost ground. However, the choir picks up the ENTRANCE CHANT with ease, so I’m sure it will all work out. My ‘unofficial’ harmonizations are being posted each week at the flourishing feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Funeral Procession”

From a mediæval Book of Hours, I was sent this glorious depiction of a Roman Catholic funeral procession by Simon Bening (d. 1561). The image resolution is extremely high. I’m not sure I know of a more beautiful illustration of a mediæval church. And I love how the servers are wearing red and pink cassocks!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accomp. • Schubert’s “Ave Maria.”

Sometimes the organist must simultaneously serve as the CANTOR. (Those who work in the field of church music know exactly what I’m talking about.) One of our contributors composed this simplified keyboard accompaniment for Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” a piece which is frequently requested for Catholic funerals and weddings. In terms of the discussion about whether that piece is too theatrical (‘operatic’) for use in Church, I will leave that discussion to others. All I know is, many church musicians out there will appreciate this simplified version.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Anima Christi”

I received a request for an organ accompaniment I created way back in 2007 for the “Anima Christi” Gregorian Chant. You can download this PDF file which has the score in plainsong followed by a keyboard accompaniment. Many melodies have been paired with “Anima Christi” over the centuries, but this is—perhaps—the most common one.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)

On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!

—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