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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Choir Directors • “Is It Worth The Struggle?”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 23, 2022

HERE ISN’T ANY MORE TIME to “beat around the bush.” The time has arrived. At this year’s Symposium, we will be revealing all our best tricks of the trade—and sharing them generously with the participants. The topic is: How to stand in front of a volunteer choir without fear. No matter how great a musician you are—even if you can play both books of the Chopin Etudes by memory—it’s still necessary to learn the pedagogical methods which will allow you to succeed. Otherwise, you risk falling into depression and despair, because the vocation of a Catholic choirmaster is filled with difficulties.

Is It Worth It? • When we consider all the difficulties and obstacles of our vocation … is it worth it? Especially when we remember how much training is required for many of our volunteer singers … is it worth it? I think it absolutely is, because we are exposing our people to the great treasures of sacred music—and that is very cool. All of us can remember some very special pieces that made us dedicate our lives to sacred music. And now, we are allowing “ordinary” Catholics from the pews to join our choirs and fall in love with sacred music.

Jules Van Nuffel • Here is a live recording from Easter Sunday of an “Alleluia” by Monsignor Van Nuffel. We have a 100% volunteer choir, and I’m so proud of these people! Some have been singing for less than two months:

Crux Refrain • On Good Friday, we sang the plainsong Pange Lingua by Bishop Fortunatus, using an SATB refrian by Maria Quinn. Again, I am so proud of this volunteer choir; several members have been singing less than two months!

The Hymn They Love • The choir fell in love with hymn number 688 from the Brébeuf Hymnal. The title of the hymn is “O Come And Mourn With Me Awhile,” with a text by Father Frederick William Faber, an Oratorian priest like Father Uwe Lang. The tune is SAINT CROSS. We never practiced the harmonies, but because of the absolutely marvelous way the Brébeuf typesets the verses, the choir was able to sight-read the harmonies:

Interesting Translation • Monsignor Knox wrote a special translation of Salve Caput Cruentatum. It’s number 440 in the Brébeuf Hymnal, and the first line is: “O sacred head ill-usèd.” The Good Friday ceremony had been going on for three (3) hours by the time they sang this hymn, so their voices sound a little rough:

Easter Has Arrived • A very ancient Easter hymn is called Ad Cenam Agni Providi. On page 42 of the Brébeuf Hymnal, a translation is provided by Robert Campbell of Skerrington (“At the Lamb’s high feast we sing”). The bass section has some trouble with the first verse, but we’ll fix that—just give us time. I think you’ll recognize the tune:

Volunteer Polyphony? • Volunteer singers can absolutely learn to sing polyphony. Even though some of the singers have been singing in a choir for less than two months, listen to how well they do on this KYRIE ELEYSON by Philippe Verdelot:

The text is attributed (if memory serves) to Saint Bonaventure:

Philomena prævia temporis amœni,
que recessum nuntias imbris atque cæni,
dum demulces animas tuo cantu leni,
avis prædulcissima, ad me, quæso, veni.

Nightingale, harbinger of the pleasant season,
that declarest the retreat of rain and mud,
whilst thou charmest souls with thy gentle song,
bird sweeter than all, come, I pray, to me!

Later on, the Council of Trent would frown upon secular tunes being used as a Cantus Firmus.

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Canon Jules Van Nuffel d 1953, crux fidelis, Frederick William Faber, Good Friday Reproaches, Grosser Gott, Pange Lingua Fortunatus, Philippe Verdelot Composer, Salve caput cruentatum Last Updated: April 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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

Random Quote

“Another cathedral functionary, a compañero named (coincidentally!) Francisco Guerrero, departs for the New World sometime before June 8, on which date the benefice held by him comes up for a split among three former choirboys whose voices have changed.”

— Chapter Resolution: 14 February 1562

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

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