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Views from the Choir Loft

“Common” Hymn Tunes? • Another Example

Jeff Ostrowski · February 26, 2022

E HAVE SPOKEN in the past about common tunes, which are also known as “shared hymn tunes.” In essence, this was a strategy adopted by priests and musicians who created the Brébeuf hymnal. This marvelous strategy makes it possible to get through the entire liturgical year even if the congregation only knows a handful of decent hymn tunes. (On the subject of “what makes a good hymn,” you might want to read what Sir Richard Terry .) Below are two recordings made by a volunteer Catholic choir last Sunday. It should be obvious that these are “shared” hymn tunes.

The first text is for the “pre-Lent” season. You can hear a baby crying in the background, but that’s okay—as Father Valentine would say: A crying baby means we have a future.

The second text is for “general use”—or it can be used for November 1st, the feast of All Saints.

I realize the value of common tunes is not yet understood by all Catholic musicians. I will continue attempting to explain how powerful they are.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Common Hymn Melodies, The Catholic Hymnal Last Updated: February 26, 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

23 May 2022 • FEEDBACK

From a reader: “I wasn’t looking for it. But, I stumbled across your hand-dandy arrangement of Pachelbel’s Canon. Jeff, this is the greatest thing since sliced bread! I had to play a wedding on Saturday. The bride requested the Canon. There were 11 bridesmaids! The organ loft is a football field away from the communion rail. It’s so difficult to play and keep checking the mirror. Your arrangement is absolutely genius. One can skip and choose which variations to use. The chord names are handy so that when my eyes are off the music, I always know where I am at. A thousand times thank you for sharing this arrangement!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
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

Random Quote

“In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to higher things.”

— Vatican II Council

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