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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

Archives for November 2022

Patrick Williams · November 30, 2022

Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “History Matters” (30 Nov 2022)

“It is important that these melodies should be performed in the manner that they were originally conceived as works of art.” —St. Pius X

Jeff Ostrowski · November 29, 2022

“Advent Hymn” • Composed by Flor Peeters

Peeters was organist at Malines Cathedral from 1923 until his death in 1986.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 28, 2022

28 November 2022 • FEEDBACK

“I can’t thank you enough for that four-part download of the Graduale with 5 lines. That is absolutely brilliant! Since I and another guy from the choir chant the Traditional Propers every Sunday, it has proven to be an invaluable resource. Great job of scanning it, too.” —Email received this morning from S.M.D.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 28, 2022

Photographs • Weinmann “Graduale” on 5 Lines!

They were not allowed to remove their boots, so thousands had their feet amputated (as the frostbite often turned into gangrene).

Daniel Tucker · November 27, 2022

Five Pro Tips for Amateur Choirs

Here are five pro-level tips that can help your amateur choirs to both sound more unified and feel more confident.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 27, 2022

PDF Download • “1st Sunday of Advent”

Those who accompany VESPERS FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT may wish to download this draft copy. It’s the organ accompaniment I use, since my parish has Vespers (in the Extraordinary Form) with our congregation each Sunday afternoon. It looks pretty ‘junky’ but it gets the job done. Someday I hope to make a much […]

Jeff Ostrowski · November 27, 2022

Advent Hymn Experiment

Our volunteer choir tried something I wanted to share…

Jeff Ostrowski · November 26, 2022

“Trochee Trouble” • Say What?

We have posted many articles discussing the French Vs. German way of interpreting syllabic plainsong—which some refer to as “Trochee Trouble.” Needless to say, we encourage everyone to carefully read all those articles. But some folks still don’t understand what “Trochee Trouble” is all about. Therefore, I have created this 1-Page Sheet that explains it […]

Dr. Charles Weaver · November 26, 2022

Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “On the Nuance Theory of Plainchant”

A brief historical survey of free rhythm in plainchant, as practiced from the modern monastic foundation of Solesmes (1833) to the present.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 25, 2022

PDF Download • Traditional Notation Gradual-Book (692 Pages) on Five Lines!

This book makes it easy for singers who only know Treble Clef.

Richard J. Clark · November 22, 2022

Saint Cecilia and an Angel Orazio Gentileschi and Giovanni Lanfranco

Join Your Parish Choir! • Why We Sing as a Faith Community

As many parishes struggle, your presence, your voice, your witness to the love of Christ is that much more important!

Patrick Williams · November 21, 2022

Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Repercussion and the Mora Vocis” (21 Nov 2022)

Patrick Williams addresses points raised by Matthew Frederes and Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski · November 20, 2022

PDF Download • “How Does the Official Rhythm Actually Sound?”

Including three (3) professionally-scanned versions of the Kyriale, released here for the 1st time!

Veronica Brandt · November 19, 2022

Reverence: Feeling or Action?

Maybe we can agree that the Latin Mass has more external signs of reverence. Maybe that will clarify our position.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 18, 2022

Directing Choirs • “Do You Have What It Takes?”

Church music should not be boring! Here I provide eleven (11) ways to keep it awesome.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
    Choirs love to sing the resplendent tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1929, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. Their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1929 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. As always, the Germans added an organ INTRODUCTION. For the record, I posted a different harmonization a few months ago which was downloaded more than 2,000 times.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”
    Various shell corporations (in an effort to make money selling Sacred Scripture) have tinkered with the LECTIONARY texts in a way that’s shameful. It’s no wonder Catholics in the pews know so few Bible passages by heart. Without authorization, these shell corporations pervert the official texts. Consider the Responsorial Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If you download this PDF comparison chart you’ll notice each country randomly omits certain sections. Such tinkering has gone on for 60+ years—and it’s reprehensible.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Monsignor Klaus Gamber Speaks!
    An interesting quotation from the eminent liturgist, Monsignor Klaus Gamber (d. 1989): “According to canon law, a person’s affiliation with a particular liturgical rite is determined by that person’s rite of baptism. Given that the liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI created a de facto new rite, one could assert that those among the faithful who were baptized according to the traditional Roman rite have the right to continue following that rite; just as priests who were ordained according to the traditional Ordo have the right to exercise the very rite that they were ordained to celebrate.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

In a meeting that took place on 23 July 2014, Pope Benedict told Father Josef Bisig, FSSP, that “Pope Saint John Paul II had the firm intention to personally bestow the episcopal consecration on an SSPX priest on 15 August 1988.”

— Libre entretien sur l’été 1988, Sedes Sapientiæ, issue 160, summer 2022

Recent Posts

  • (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
  • PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”
  • “Can Choral Music Survive?” • 3 Reasons It Will
  • A Simple Way to Sing and Notate Organum Harmony
  • Monsignor Klaus Gamber Speaks!

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