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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Organ Accompaniment for Kyrie VIII (“Missa de Angelis”) by Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski · August 23, 2022

HE FAMOUS “Mass of the Angels” (Missa de Angelis) often gets a bum rap. It’s certainly the most well-known Mass, and in the 19th century missions, it was sung in Iroquoian. People usually condemn it as being “too reminiscent modern tonality.” Even Dr. Peter Wagner placed it in the category of cantus recentiores. In reality, however, the Kyrie comes from the 1300s. The Sanctus and Agnus Dei are fairly ancient, too. They appear to be ‘contrafact’ settings of O Quam Suavis Est. (At the end of this article, I show some examples of that antiphon.) Anyone who’s skeptical is invited to examine this color-coded chart.

My Favorite Harmonization • Inspired by the great Flor Peeters, I have written an accompaniment for Kyrie VIII. In general, I move the bass-line downwards (stepwise) as the melody in the soprano rises.  I hope you like it:

*  PDF Download • Kyrie VIII (Jeff Ostrowski)
—Kyrie from “Missa de Angelis” harmonized by Jeffrey Ostrowski.

That recording was made yesterday, which was the very first day our choir has returned. I think we’re going to have an awesome choral season!

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: Amédée Gastoué d 1943, Dom Josef Pothier, Dr Peter Wagner Gregorian, Kyrie VIII, Mass of the Angels, Missa de angelis, Missa dicta de Angelis, O Quam Suavis Est Last Updated: August 23, 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

    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Victoria not only made his professional debut as church organist: he also continued active on the organ bench until the very eve of his death. Indeed, during his last seven years at Madrid (1604-1611) he occupied no other musical post but that of convent organist.”

— Dr. Robert Stevenson (1961)

Recent Posts

  • Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
  • PDF Download • Belgian Book of Gregorian Accompaniments (Official Edition)
  • Don’t You Agree About These?
  • Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
  • Crucial Tip For Choir Directors

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