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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Advent Eucharistic Hymn”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 13, 2022

IKE EVERY OTHER human being on the planet, I’ve created things I’m not proud of. When I remember those items, I wince. At the same time, I have produced things of which I’m very proud … and an example would be my 2019 article: What Makes A “Catholic” Hymnal? Towards the end of that article, I demonstrated that it’s wrong to attribute the melody for “Véni Redémptor Géntium” (an Advent hymn) to Martin Luther. As a matter of fact, like many tunes Luther adopted, the melody was originally Roman Catholic. Perhaps people erroneously believe it to have non-Catholic origins because famous Protestant composers—such as the magnificent Johann Sebastian Bach—did wonderful things with that tune.

Advent Eucharistic Hymn • The Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal uses that famous Advent melody on page 145, setting a tremendous Eucharistic text by a Catholic Archbishop named John Peckham (d. 1292), who had studied with Saint Bonaventure:

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

No English? No Problem. • Some parishes don’t allow English songs. If you’re the choirmaster at one of those parishes, try this Latin version:

*  PDF Download • “AVE, CORPUS DOMINI” (private edition)
—A Eucharistic Advent Hymn • Courtesy of the Saint John Brébeuf Hymnal.

Sensational Strategy • We have spoken in the past about common tunes, which are also known as “shared hymn tunes.” In essence, this was a technique perfected by priests and musicians who created the Brébeuf Hymnal. This sensational strategy makes it possible to get through the entire liturgical year even if the congregation only knows a handful of decent hymn tunes. Furthermore, it means your choir members get more “bang for their buck”—and that means you can spend more time working on things like phrasing, diction, and balance. (I don’t need to tell you how precious rehearsal time is!) The Advent tune we’ve been discussing—which is sometimes called “NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND”—appears four times in the Brébeuf Hymnal: (1) on page 145; (2) on page 190; (3) on page 516; (4) on page 874.

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: Common Hymn Melodies, Johann Sebastian Bach, Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland, Veni Redemptor Gentium ADVENT Last Updated: December 13, 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

    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.
    —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
    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

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I want to say one thing to you strongly, especially today: virginity for the Kingdom of God is not a “no,” it is a “yes!”

— Pope Francis (10/4/2013)

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