Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Regina Caeli for 3 Voices”

Andrea Leal · April 6, 2022

S A VERY, VERY BUSY homeschooling mom of many who also happens to lead a choir I often have to hurry whenever I am attempting to accomplish something of value. I am a “just get it done” kind of person, and for better or for worse that means that I am often just happy to check something off my list, even if it isn’t perfect. Ironically, I did used to be a perfectionist but I no longer have to battle it as I did before I had children because who has time for that? Nonetheless, my own ridiculous pride sometimes stops me from moving forward with something worthwhile. That is why I have sat on these recordings for 3 years:

* PDF Download • REGINA CAELI
—For Three Voices; Composed by Gregor Aichinger (d. 1628).

Rehearsal videos: Equal Voices • Soprano I • Soprano II • Tenor

A 12-Year-Old Singer: Back in 2019 I came across this beautiful polyphonic Regina Caeli by Aichinger and I decided it would be a wonderful piece to try with my choir. I also created rehearsal audio for it, but because I recorded it very quickly so my choir could start learning it, it’s not a very well done recording (to say the least). We did only a few takes, and I settled for electronic corrections over re-recording. I never shared this before because pride and perfectionism held me back. I cringe even now when I listen to the hack job I did. But even hack jobs have their purpose. I am, however, consoled by the best part of these recordings – the lovely soprano voice of one of my singers, who at the time of this recording was just 12 years old!

Pride Is Bad! This Lent, I am trying really hard to let go of the vices of pride and perfectionism, and so I am sharing this with you. If any other choir can benefit from using these recordings to glorify the Lord at Holy Mass on Easter Sunday, then my “bad” recordings are actually very, very good.

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

About Andrea Leal

Andrea Leal is a wife and homeschooling mother of 6 children. She serves as choir director for the Traditional Latin Mass in Las Vegas.—(Read full biography).

“Music List” • 19th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10 August 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

This Sunday’s Communion Antiphon

This coming Sunday—10 August 2025—is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). The COMMUNION ANTIPHON is really gorgeous, and two of its features are worth mentioning. First of all, the Gospel reading assigned is from Saint Luke, whereas the the antiphon—although it matches the account—comes from Saint Matthew. (If anyone can point to a similar example, please notify me.) Furthermore, if you look at the authentic Gregorian Chant version posted on the feasts website, you’ll notice that it’s MODE III but ends on the ‘wrong’ note. A comparable instance of such a ‘transposed’ chant would be KYRIE IV.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly

Using “Ye” vs. “You” is rather tricky, because it depends upon which era one is trying to recreate—if that makes any sense. In other words, the rules haven’t always been the same for these two. Nevertheless, Father Philip George Caraman (the legendary Jesuit scholar) gives us a masterclass using Saint Luke’s Gospel. Father Caraman was close friends with Monsignor Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, and Sir Alec Guinness.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed