• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
    • Views from the Choir Loft • “Our Team”
    • Our Editorial Policy
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel
  • Donate
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

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    William Byrd • Simple “Agnus Dei” Canon
    Time flies! Back in July, I posted a PDF setting of a perfect canon by William Byrd (d. 1623) arranged as an AGNUS DEI for three voices. Last Sunday, we sang that arrangement with our volunteer choir. To hear a ‘live’ recording of it, click here (Mp3). In my humble opinion, this would be a perfect piece for a choir just beginning to experiment with polyphony.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony. — One of our volunteer choirs also sang that SANCTUS on 24 September 2023, and you can listen to how that came out.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Chasuble, or upper garment, represents the purple garment which the soldiers put upon Jesus Christ, and the heavy cross that He carried on His blessed shoulders to Mount Calvary.”

— Guide for the Laity (1875)

Recent Posts

  • Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Nuances of Nuances” (28 Sep 2023)
  • William Byrd • Simple “Agnus Dei” Canon
  • Active Participation or Not?
  • (Not Kidding) • Does Singing for Mass Fulfill One’s Obligation to Attend Mass?
  • A Brief Addendum

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.