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Views from the Choir Loft

“Advent Hymn” • Composed by Flor Peeters

Jeff Ostrowski · November 29, 2022

AINT DOMINIC SAVIO said: “If I save one soul, I save my own.” I think most of us would agree that we’re not on fire for the Holy Faith as we ought to be. Furthermore, we do a terrible job sharing our Catholic Faith with others. The Gospel (Lk 19: 39-40) says: “Some of the Pharisees said to Jesus: Master, rebuke thy disciples; but He answered: I say to you, if they should keep silence, the very stones will cry out instead.” We do not cry out, telling others about JESUS CHRIST, His forgiveness, the life of Grace, and so forth. Indeed, we scarcely whimper.

A Small Way Forward • On the other hand, we have our “small victories.” For instance, it’s so rewarding to expose parishioners to the beautiful Catholic treasury of sacred music. The following hymn—NUMBER 186 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal—was composed by Flor Peeters, who was organist at Malines Cathedral from 1923 until his death in 1986. Peeters was a famous pedagogue, known all over the world, and sometimes taught at Boys Town (Nebraska). The text is an ancient Catholic hymn called Cónditor Alme Síderum, which was been translated into English:

M To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Jeff’s Deathbed • Until my dying day, I will never understand why some musicians are fine using hymn books which—broadly speaking—consist of “leftovers” from Protestant hymnals. The Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal doesn’t mimic or “build upon” Protestant hymnals. Rather, it draws upon the gorgeous and powerful Roman Catholic hymnody tradition. For example, ANALECTA HYMNICA MEDII AEVI by Father Dreves gives more than 10,000 Catholic hymns! I just don’t understand why anyone would discard all of those. I gave more detailed thoughts on this matter in 2019:

*  2019 Article • What Makes A “Catholic” Hymnal?

Organ Interludes • As you can hear by that live recording, we normally don’t sing all the verses one after the other. We have the men sing certain verses, or just the women, or SATB, or with Soprano descant, or with a different organ harmonization, and so forth. (We have discussed how crucial musical diversity is many times on this blog.) In that recording, you can hear my rather pathetic attempt at organ improvisation…

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Advent Hymn Creator Alme, Analecta hymnica medii aevi, Different Ways To Sing Hymns, Flor Peeters Last Updated: November 30, 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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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

Random Quote

“The recitation of the Office of the Dead, the Christmas Office, the spectacle of the days of Holy Week, the sublime chant of the Exultet, beside which the most intoxicating accents of Sophocles and Pindar seemed to me to be insignificant—all of this overwhelmed me with respect and joy, with gratitude, repentance, and adoration!”

— Paul Claudel (1913)

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