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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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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

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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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —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

“In case of urgent danger of life anyone may baptize, even a heretic or pagan. It is sufficient that he administer the essential matter and form and have the implicit intention of doing what Christ instituted. Naturally a Catholic must be preferred, if possible. A man is preferred to a woman; but anyone else to the parents.”

— Father Adrian Fortescue (1917)

Recent Posts

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