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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Missa Philomena (Philippe Verdelot)

Jeff Ostrowski · February 26, 2022

EADERS WILL RECALL that I usually introduce polyphony with multiple sections in a “piecemeal” manner. Several examples can be found at this link—but most people find it more convenient to explore LALEMANT POLYPHONIC. There’s no real “mystery” to piecemeal polyphony; it just means introducing a piece slowly, rather than attempting to teach your choir a 3-section KYRIE ELEYSON or a 3-section AGNUS DEI all at once. Today, I introduce part 2 (“Christe”) of a composition by Verdelot. As time goes on, I will add the other sections.

Going Way Back: This music is from a much earlier period (stile antico) than compositions we usually sing. You can really tell it’s different, too! The long vocal lines are different. The musica ficta is different. The harmonic rhythm and tonality are different. The lengths of the notes are different (especially the “unequal” ending notes). And the text underlay! To be honest, I massively modified the text underlay; it was just too different from what my choirs are used to. I wasn’t brave enough to leave it alone! The further you go back in music history, the more difficult the tessitura—but that is not a problem in this particular example. We usually sing Guerrero, Victoria, Palestrina, and other High Renaissance composers. We usually do not sing composers such as Costanzo Festa, Adrian Willaert, Nicolas Gombert, Josquin des Prez, Johannes Ockeghem, and Pierre de la Rue.

Jeff’s Squeaky Soprano: To save rehearsal time, I created practice videos for my choir members who struggle with reading music. I’m a baritone, so you’ll have to pardon my squeaky Soprano voice:

REHEARSAL VIDEOS for each individual voice and the (free) PDF score await you at #54702.

Most readers won’t click on the individual voice parts, and that makes me sad. When we post a “scandalous” liturgical video, we get 40,000 views. I wish we could get as many views for the rehearsal videos—we must revive authentic sacred music!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Philippe Verdelot Composer, Piecemeal Polyphony Last Updated: March 17, 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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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)
    The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent
    The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)
    Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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Religious worship supplies all our spiritual need, and suits every mood of mind and variety of circumstance.

— John Henry Cardinal Newman

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