• 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
  • 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
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Choirmasters • “How To Avoid Getting Fired”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 20, 2022

AUL CHANDLER HUME—the famous music critic—wrote in 1956 that a choirmaster must possess three qualifications (at a minimum). One was: “He must be familiar with the special tricks of training amateur singers, particularly if a large percentage of his choir does not read music at sight.” In my various articles and workshops over the last ten years, I have suggested that a good way to keep one’s job secure is demonstrating to the pastor that one is teaching the people from the parish. In other words, a good choirmaster will recruit members of the congregation—as many as possible—and teach them authentic sacred music.

Tricks Of The Trade • Anyone who’s ever stood in front of a choir knows the choirmaster’s vocation is not an easy one. One is basically expected to “perform miracles”—in an impossibly short amount of time! An excellent ‘trick of the trade’ is utilization of common hymn melodies (a.k.a. “shared tunes”). Indeed, this strategy can mean the difference between surviving and throwing in the towel. Without question, the most abundant source of common hymn melodies is the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal (Sophia Institute Press © 2018).

Jeff Demonstrates How This Works:

I will attempt to explain what “shared tunes” are all about. Consider the following hymn (#190 in the Brébeuf Hymnal) which is Cónditor Alme Síderum translated into English:

Did you notice how the voices switch to SATB harmonies in the second verse? Needless to say, you had to teach your choir members how to sing SATB. Time is extremely limited when it comes to volunteer choir rehearsals … is there a way to get more bang for your buck? Yes, there is a way. Consider the following hymn (#145 in the Brébeuf Hymnal). Its text is for Holy Communion, yet it employs the same “shared” melody:

Indeed, you can even sing that same hymn in Latin, instead of English—and notice the beautiful entrance by the Alto section at marker 1:19:

Conclusion • If you search the Brébeuf Portal for “Advent,” the search results show that at least two other hymns employ that same melody (with different texts). I hope this explanation of common hymn melodies has been useful to you. The basic idea is to “double dip” on hymns your choir has already learned, since there’s never enough rehearsal time. Remember: We have studied music since we were 6 years old—but the folks you must instruct do not have the benefit of our training! Therefore, they require much repetition. Our job is accept this reality.

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Advent Hymn Creator Alme, Ave Vivens Hostia, Common Hymn Melodies, Conditor Alme Siderum Advent Last Updated: December 20, 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

    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

“Gerard Manley Hopkins once argued that most people drank more liquids than they really needed and bet that he could go without drinking for a week. He persisted until his tongue was black and he collapsed at drill.”

— A biography of Fr. Gerard M. Hopkins (d. 1889)

Recent Posts

  • Church Music Shouldn’t Be “Headache-Inducing”
  • Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
  • Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
  • Apply Right Now! • Sacred Music Symposium
  • Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦

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.