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

Corpus Christi Watershed

We’re a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2006. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and run no advertisements. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors.

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “What Child Is This?” • Jeff’s Arrangement of This Carol … in Latin!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 24, 2022

N A FAMOUS letter written circa 1996, Justice Antonin Scalia (d. 2016) opened up in a very personal way to Justice Harry Blackmun, saying he felt worried: “I am beginning to repeat myself.” Like Justice Scalia, I try not to repeat myself on these pages, but sometimes it’s inevitable. Perhaps readers remember why I no longer compose. It was when DR. CALABRESE came to Los Angeles and conducted a brief SATB KYRIE by Father Francisco Guerrero (d. 1599). At that point, I had already spent two decades studying 16th century counterpoint, conducting Renaissance polyphony, and transcribing thousands of pages by Palestrina, Victoria, Handl, Marenzio, Croce, Lassus, and so on. But something hit me in that moment. I realized that Guerrero was composing on an entirely different level. Therefore, I stopped composing—because it was embarrassing for me to pretend that Guerrero and I shared the same profession. (Nor would I step onto the basketball court with Michael Jordan.)

Not Completely • Since that time, on those rare occasions when I do compose, I utilize a fake name. For every rule, however, there is an exception. This morning, I sat down and wrote a brief SATB arrangement for “What Child Is This?” (which I consider a truly beautiful Christmas carol). Then I attempted to record all the vocal parts—including the girls’ parts!—and here’s how it turned out:

*  PDF Download • SATB “What Child Is This?” (IN LATIN)
—For an English version, cf. #677 in the Brébeuf Hymnal.

M Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #43746 .

[The polyphonic version of “What Child Is This” can be downloaded in English as of 18 December 2024.]

Repeating The Answer • Something we must keep repeating: the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal is dedicated to metrical hymns. The Liber Usualis is a gorgeous book—but the Brébeuf Hymnal is different. Some people say: “I think the Brébeuf Hymnal should have included the same pieces which the Liber Usualis included.” It’s difficult to understand why they say this. If they want the Liber Usualis, they ought to purchase the Liber Usualis. But the Brébeuf Hymnal is different, because it’s dedicated to metrical hymnody.

Cheetah Vs. Giraffe • After all, a cheetah is not a giraffe—so it’s rather silly to complain that the cheetah’s neck isn’t as long as the giraffe’s neck. Similarly, people sometimes say: “I think the Brébeuf Hymnal should contain all the Gregorian hymns that were printed in Cantus Varii.” Again, it’s difficult to understand why anyone would say that! Those who desire Cantus Varii should purchase that book! But the Brébeuf Hymnal is different, because it provides what can be found in no other book … viz. the finest Catholic metrical hymns.

Expanding The Mission • Some parishes are not allowed to sing in English. They use Latin only. Therefore, I have created a whole slew of “personal additions” to the Brébeuf Hymnal. Essentially, I take the Latin texts found in the Brébeuf Hymnal—along with the superb literal translations—and create performance editions. Obviously, these Latin hymns (which often contain elisions) would not be suitable for congregations.1 Very soon, I will release all these editions online; I just need to find a sensible way to do this. I’ve amassed quite a collection!

1 With a few notable exceptions (such as “ADESTE FIDELES”) congregations sound pretty terrible when they try to sing a whole bunch of Latin verses. I learned this the hard way!

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: Cantus Varii, Latin Christmas Carols, Latin What Child Is This, What Child Is This? Last Updated: December 18, 2024

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

Thus in 1905 the Vatican Kyriale appeared with rhythmic signs and the following legend: “Præsens exemplar, rhythmicis signis a Solesmensibus monachis ornatum, typicae Vaticanæ editioni de cætero plane conforme repertum est.” (This copy, provided with rhythmic signs by the monks of Solesmes, completely agrees in every other respect with the Vatican original.)

— Dom Gregory Hügle, OSB

Recent Posts

  • Hidden Gem: Ascendit Deus (Dalitz)
  • PDF Download • Soprano Descant — “Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above”
  • “Dom Jausions had a skilled hand. His transcriptions are masterpieces of neatness & precision.”
  • Pope Leo XIV pays tribute to Palestrina
  • PDF Download • Palestrina’s “Ave Maria”

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 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.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up