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Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

“Bravery!” • Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording

Jeff Ostrowski · October 6, 2022

HENEVER Sergei Rachmaninov (d. 1943) would hear Josef Hofmann (d. 1957) play a piece, he would immediately throw up his hands and never perform that piece again. What was the point? As Abram Chasins explained in the 1980s, even the greatest pianists sounded like “innocent, naïve pupils” compared to Hofmann’s overwhelming, pristine interpretations. I’m reminded of this whenever I read the mind-boggling book by Robert Murrell Stevenson (d. 2012), which I’ve praised so frequently on this blog. Truly, Dr. Stevenson was on ‘another level’ as far as musicology was concerned. I recently uploaded a fascinating footnote from Stevenson’s book, which I’ll speak of below.

Live Recording • Here’s a live recording of our volunteer choir, singing on 3 October 2022:

M Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #48088 .

Free Download! • You can download that wonderful Eucharistic Hymn, with counterpoint by Flor Peeters (d. 1986) at the following link. You can also purchase hard copies on AMAZON PRIME.

*  PDF Download • EUCHARSTIC HYMN (Flor Peeters)
—2-Voice Eucharistic Hymn (45 pages) • Includes a Descant!.

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Choristers’ Questions • When members of my choir ask questions, I attempt to provide answers. One member asked whether it was common in the olden days to alternate pipe organ with a cappella singing, such as we did in that recording. A 1604AD document (memorial) provides clues vis-à-vis musical activities at the Cathedral Toledo:

“At first vespers (In Nativitate Domini) the organ shall accompany the singing of the stanzas beginning Veni, redemptor gentium which come at the end of the book of Ave maris stella settings and other hymns by Morales.” […] “On Wednesday in Holy Week, the first Lamentation is to be Morales’s polyphonic setting. The MISERERE shall be sung antiphonally, one choir at the High Altar, another in the tribunes of the coro del arzobispo. One choir shall consist of the boys and a tenor.” […] “On Maundy Thursday at High Mass, the INTROIT shall be sung in a contrapuntal setting, the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, and Sanctus polyphonically, the Agnus Dei in plainchant.” […] “On Good Friday, the Passion shall be sung as a solo [on Palm Sunday, the turba parts were sung polyphonically by a complete choir, and on Tuesday and Wednesday by a trio]. The first LAMENTATION shall be sung polyphonically.” […] “On Holy Saturday the Gloria shall be sung in plainchant with counterpoint above. The same for the Alleluia. At Vespers, the same for Psalm 150. The MAGNIFICAT must be in Tone VIII, odd verses plainchanted, even verses sung polyphonically. At Solemn Compline in the evening, two choirs shall sit on the benches of the cope-bearers and two bands of instrumentalists shall play. The portable organ shall be lowered into the coro to accompany the singers, who shall sing solos in their order of seniority, with organ and—if desired—instrumental support. Psalm 133 shall be sung in fabordón, Tone VIII.” On Easter, the prosa “must be the one composed by Morales.”

Peculiarities of Spain • Notice how the Veni Redemptor Gentium was part of the Divine Office at Toledo. I believe the Ordinary Form added it, but the 1962 Breviary does not have it. On the other hand, it will be remembered that Spain had peculiar liturgical “uses” in those days, which was why some of the reforms of the Council of Trent did not apply to Spain.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Hoste Dum Victo Triumphans, Josef Hofmann Pianist Extraordinaire, Sergei Rachmaninoff Last Updated: December 26, 2023

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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

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“The replies to this committee (of which Mgr Bugnini was the secretary) reveal a desire to reform the liturgy. In what sense? Out of 2,109 responses from bishops, just three expressed the desire to restore Communion under both kinds. There was a sizable demand for limited use of the vernacular, but only one French bishop wanted the entire Mass in French.”

— Fr. Dominic Allain (2019)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Catholic Texts Transcend”
  • PDF Download • “Jeff’s Mom Joins Our Fundraiser”
  • “Musicam Sacram” (5 March 1967) • Does It Apply?
  • “What Martin Luther Said…”
  • “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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