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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Saint Noël Chabanel Mass Setting (“Kýrie Eléison”) for the Ordinary Form

Jeff Ostrowski · August 23, 2023

WOULD BET MONEY you’ve heard elderly people say something like: “When I was growing up, I’d walk twelve miles to school in the snow…” I can assure you: I always walked to school. I never once rode in a car. And we enjoyed walking. It was quite peaceful. I was astonished to learn (when we moved to Los Angeles) that some parents send their children to high school each day in über! Do you ever take time to reflect? Do you ever look back and remember how things were growing up? Do you agree life back then was completely different? My family had four boys and one girl (the youngest). My parents refused to buy us a Nintendo, so we entered strangers’ houses (!) to watch our neighbors play Nintendo. For hours we’d sit there, hoping ardently we might get a short turn.

Kyrie Released • In a moment, I will continue this discussion. But first I want to release another movement of the Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel. Written for the Ordinary Form, this Mass involves your CONGREGATION, your CANTOR, and your CHOIR. It consists of seven movements. The other movements will most likely be released next week; we’re putting finishing touches on the rehearsal videos. I tried to make my setting as brief as possible. (Anyone who’s worked in Ordinary Form parishes will understand why.)

Free rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #39164.

To freely download the PDF score, locate #39164.

Discussion Cont’d • It seems unreal that as youngsters we roamed the neighborhood each day. I have a poor memory, so there’s tons I can’t remember. But I do remember the various houses we lived in, and I have specific memories of entering strangers’ homes. Life was different back then. Nobody even locked their doors at night! (If readers have similar experiences they wish to share, I’d love to hear them. You can send to the email address listed at the bottom of this page.)

Has Jeff Changed? • I think we’ve established that “times have changed.” Needless to say, human beings also change and develop with the passage of time. Consider the polyphonic ending to the Kýrie Eléison posted above. Would I even appreciate such a music as a youngster? Would I say to myself: “Oh, what a wonderful use of canon!” Would I exclaim: “Such a clever juxtaposition of long notes against fast-moving stepwise patterns.” Would I get excited over the way each voice enters yet carefully makes room for others to enter? Would I cherish the fact that no matter how many times one listens to that short polyphonic section, there’s always something new to listen for?

An Ever-Widening Vista • My friends, let’s be honest. This isn’t something my brain would have understood as a youngster. Yet, tremendous wisdom is demonstrated by the tradition of the Catholic Church. The THESAURUS MUSICAE SACRAE (“treasury of sacred music”) is not stagnant, lifeless, and tedious. Rather, it’s an ever-widening vista, offering something powerful and valuable to all who set foot in the church, no matter their current stage of development. Our culture insists that learning a discipline is worthless. Our culture also says hard work “victimizes.” But the tradition of the Church is different. The tradition of the Church says we don’t know everything—and it is good to study, learn, struggle, develop, and (as a consequence) grow.

Keeping Grounded • Readers will agree that American society has changed so much, it’s almost unrecognizable. However, the way to “escape the madness”—in my humble opinion—is to interact with people in real life. I love our annual Sacred Music Symposium because I come into contact with such wonderful and “grounded” people. I also love directing choirs, because the singers are fantastic people. They’re kind, generous, interesting, and unique. They keep me grounded.

The Rock’s Lesson • A “siren” in Greek mythology was a half-bird woman who lured sailors to destruction by the sweetness of her song. Many church leaders today have been lured away from the Gospel; instead they talk about “making the world a better place.” They have forgotten that our Savior said cælum et terra transíbunt (Mt 24:35). We must remember the lesson of the rock. If you visit Rome, you’ll observe stones which have been trod upon for centuries. It turns out even a hard stone will (ever so slowly) develop furrows. Now imagine the Earth as a giant stone. Ask yourself how long it would take for a tiny ant to walk around the equator until it caused furrows. We’re talking millions of years, right? And yet, even that is barely the beginning of eternity. Do we contemplate this?

Conclusion • When we begin to understand how long eternity lasts, the constant and heavy penances undertaken daily by someone like Saint John Vianney make sense. I do think there’s a “shortcut” to Heaven, however. (I base my theory off something Father Valentine Young said to me during confession.) In essence, I believe charity is something particularly pleasing to Almighty God. Therefore, let us love one another! And let us pray for the grace to forgive others’ faults for the sake of JESUS CHRIST. Et dimítte nobis débita nostra, sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris…

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

Filed Under: Articles, Featured, PDF Download Tagged With: Choral Extension Jeff Ostrowski, Father Noel Chabanel, MASS IN HONOR OF NOEL CHABANEL, SATB Polyphonic Extension, Thesaurus musicae sacrae Last Updated: August 23, 2023

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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

    Cardinal Ranjith on “Active Participation”
    From 2005–2009, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith served as Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He was considered ‘papabile’ during the last conclave. On 8 December 2008, he wrote this powerful statement concerning Gregorian Chant, participatio actuosa, celebration “ad orientem,” and other subjects. When it comes to the question of what “sacred” means, Monsignor Robert A. Skeris provides a marvelous answer.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 22nd in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 31 August 2025, which is the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “The Worm That Dieth Not”
    My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin with reflections on the sacred liturgy and church music. In my most recent article, I discuss “The Worm That Dieth Not.” At this website, you can access it conveniently; simply scroll down to the one dated 31 August 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“And thus, when we renounce for Thee | Its restless aims and fears, | The tender mem’ries of the past, | The hopes of coming years, | Poor is our sacrifice, whose eyes | Are lighted from above; | We offer what we cannot keep, | What we have ceased to love.”

— Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman

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