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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

Natalia’s Message • “Hymn Verses Written Out!”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 24, 2023

NE OF THE CRUELEST things you can do to anyone is … ignore them. Obviously, I’m not talking about every situation. For example, I’m currently having issues with my email service. As a result, I’m unable to respond to certain people who sent me messages. That’s not “ignoring”—because there’s nothing I can do about it. [A friend of mine who’s brilliant at technology is on the case, so everything should be fixed soon.] What I’m talking about is when a homeless person needs assistance but everyone walking by pretends not to notice. I will continue this discussion below.

A Film About Hymn Verses! • I don’t work for SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS, but my friends do. Moreover—along with several authors who contribute to this blog—my musical compositions were chosen to be included in the Brébeuf Hymnal. I have been assisting SOPHIA with production of several explanatory videos. Here’s an example:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Heart of the Matter • I like that video, because it gets to the heart of the matter. When I was first hired as a church musician, I remember how the parish used books from one of the “big publishers.” These books used the standard method of notating each hymn. Usually, they would only notate the first two or three verses—the rest being printed at the bottom of the page, without any musical notes above them. Since I was responsible for five (5) Masses each Sunday, sometimes I had to serve as organist and cantor simultaneously. I didn’t want to sing only the first two verses, so I spent hours writing out the additional verses using SIBELIUS. This was also necessary if the choir wanted to break into SATB on the final verse.

Lazy Typesetting • I can understand why publishers “stack” verses. It saves them tons of work! But if the music is difficult or unfamiliar, it doesn’t work in real life for volunteer singers. Moreover, it doesn’t work when the organist also serves as cantor. The only way to “solve” this problem is by singing the same hymns over and over again—month after month, year after year—so the organist can memorize the harmonization (and some of the lyrics). If somebody has sung a hymn since childhood, they probably have the lyrics memorized. Believe it or not, I’ve encountered many musicians (!) who feel that if they have lyrics memorized, that means everybody in the congregation also has those same lyrics memorized. (I am not kidding!)

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:

Seeking Answers! • The Brébeuf Hymnal solves the problem by notating each verse, the same way the ANTIPHONALE ROMANUM (1949) notated each verse. For years, I have tried to figure out how other musicians get around these issues. So far, I’ve been unable to get any answers. When I probe, I’m often ignored. I suspect this is the reason why so few Catholic Churches have volunteer choirs capable of singing SATB well. Choirmasters in such a situation should immediately obtain the Brébeuf Hymnal. We have used it at my parish for five years, and what a difference it has made!

“Ignoring” (1 of 3) • Suppose a child in elementary school challenged Albert Einstein (d. 1955) to debate him vis-à-vis quantum mechanics. If the child receives no response, that doesn’t mean Einstein is too cowardly to debate. In reality, it would be absurd for Einstein to debate physics with a child in elementary school. Sometimes “ignoring” is fully appropriate.

“Ignoring” (2 of 3) • Let’s take another case. A few years ago, a colleague (who considers himself a great church musician) sent me an email. In one of my articles, I’d mentioned that I can’t stand hearing wrong notes. Therefore, when I began my career it was necessary for me to write out—using SIBELIUS—each verse of a hymn if I were simultaneously serving as cantor & organist. My correspondent told me: “Jeff, you’re clearly a deficient musician. We are trained to play and sing stacked verses without any problems whatsoever. I can do it in my sleep.” My suspicion was this particular musician sang the same hymns over and over again, meaning he’d basically memorized each verse. Therefore, I responded to him: “Would you’d be willing to give me a demonstration? Let’s open a zoom session, and I’ll send you a piece with stacked verses. For somebody like you, this will be a piece of cake, right?” I never heard from him again.

“Ignoring” (3 of 3) • A few years back, I received an unsolicited email accusing me of certain things. For example, I was informed that a statement I’d made during one of my talks was “duplicitous.” I took the time to respond with five (5) specific points, asking this person to explain—in light of those five points—why he thinks I was duplicitous. His answer (which I still have) was: “I no longer wish to discuss this matter.” Do you see why I find the ignoring technique frustrating?

When it comes to the subject of ignoring, we saw this (sadly) with the promulgation of TRADITIONIS CUSTODES. After its release, some bishops chose to persecute certain Catholics under the pretense of “being faithful to liturgical norms.” They seemed to contradict Canon Law, which says the salvation of the souls is the highest law. Allowing school concerts (for example) in the parish church while forbidding the Sacrifice of the Mass causes tremendous scandal to the faithful. Moreover, these are the same bishops who simply ignore serious liturgical questions when it suits them. For instance, when those same bishops are asked by priests why they don’t follow certain liturgical norms—yet follow TRADITIONIS CUSTODES rigidly—they have no answer … so they ignore the inquiry. If those bishops wanted to be faithful to liturgical norms, they would obey the mandates of Vatican II. But they often don’t, and give no explanation. For example, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “the Latin language is to be retained by clerics in the divine office” (except for individual cases). I could enumerate many other liturgical norms which bishops disobey. If you write them letters asking why, don’t be surprised when you get ignored.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Eliminate Stacked Hymn Verses Last Updated: November 8, 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

    PDF Comparison Chart • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”
    EARS BEFORE truly revolutionary changes were introduced by the post-conciliar reformers, Evelyn Waugh wrote (on 16 August 1964) to John Cardinal Heenan: “I think that a vociferous minority has imposed itself on the hierarchy and made them believe that a popular demand existed where there was in fact not even a preference.” We ask the kind reader— indeed, we beg you—to realize that those of us born in the 1940s and 1950s had no cognizance of Roman activities during the 1960s and 1970s. We were concerned with making sure we had the day’s bus fare, graduating from high school, taking care of our siblings, learning a trade, getting a job, courting a spouse. We questioned neither the nuns nor the Church.1 Do not believe for one instant any of us were following the liturgical machinations of Cardinal Lercaro or Father Bugnini in real time. Setting The Stage • To never question or resist Church authorities is praiseworthy. On the other hand, when a scandalous situation persists for decades, it must be brought into focus. Our series will do precisely that as we discuss the Lectionary Scandal from a variety of angles. We don’t do this to attack the Catholic Church. Our goal is bringing to light what’s been going on, so it can be fixed once and for all. Our subject is extremely knotty and difficult to navigate. Its complexity helps explain why the situation has persisted for such a long time.2 But if we immediately get “into the weeds” we’ll lose our audience. Therefore, it seems better to jump right in. So today, we’ll explore the legality of selling these texts. A Word On Copyright • Suppose Susie modifies a paragraph by Edgar Allan Poe. That doesn’t mean ipso facto she can assert copyright on it. If Susie takes a picture of a Corvette and uses Photoshop to color the tires blue, that doesn’t mean she henceforth “owns” all Corvettes in America. But when it comes to Responsorial Psalm translations, certain parties have been asserting copyright over them, selling them for a profit, and bullying publishers vis-à-vis hymnals and missals. Increasingly, Catholics are asking whether these translations are truly under copyright—because they are identical (or substantially identical) to other translations.3 Example After Example • Our series will provide copious examples supporting our claims. Sometimes we’ll rely on the readership for assistance, because—as we’ve stressed—our subject’s history couldn’t be more convoluted. There are countless manuscripts (in Greek, Hebrew, and Latin) we don’t have access to, so it would be foolish for us to claim that our observations are somehow the ‘final word’ on anything. Nevertheless, we demand accountability. Catholics in the pews are the ones who paid for all this. We demand to know who specifically made these decisions (which impact every English-speaking Catholic) and why specifically certain decisions were made. The Responsorial Psalms used in America are—broadly speaking—stolen from the hard work of others. In particular, they borrowed heavily from Father Cuthbert Lattey’s 1939 PSALTER TRANSLATION:
    *  PDF Download • COMPARISON CHART —We thank the CCW staff for technical assistance with this graph.
    Analysis • Although certain parties have been selling (!!!) that translation for decades, the chart demonstrates it’s not a candidate for copyright since it “borrows” or “steals” or “rearranges” so much material from other translations, especially the 1939 translation by Father Cuthbert Lattey. What this means in layman’s terms is that individuals have been selling a translation under false pretenses, a translation they don’t own (although they claim to). To make RESTITUTION, all that money will have to be returned. A few years ago, the head of ICEL gave a public speech in which he said they give some of “their” profits to the poor. While almsgiving is a good thing, it cannot justify theft. Our Constant Theme • Our series will be held together by one thread, which will be repeated constantly: “Who was responsible?” Since 1970, the conduct of those who made a profit by selling these sacred texts has been repugnant. Favoritism was shown toward certain entities—and we will document that with written proof. It is absolutely essential going forward that the faithful be told who is making these decisions. Moreover, vague justifications can no longer be accepted. If we’re told they are “making the translations better,” we must demand to know what specifically they’re doing and what specific criteria they’re following. Stay Tuned • If you’re wondering whether we’ll address the forthcoming (allegedly) Lectionary and the so-called ABBEY PSALMS AND CANTICLES, have no fear. We’ll have much to say about both. Please stay tuned. We believe this will end up being the longest series of articles ever submitted to Corpus Christi Watershed. To be continued. ROBERT O’NEILL Former associate of Monsignor Francis “Frank” P. Schmitt at Boys Town in Nebraska JAMES ARNOLD Formerly associated w/ King’s College, Cambridge A convert to the Catholic Church, and distant relative of J. H. Arnold MARIA B. Currently serves as a musician in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte. Those aware of the situation in her diocese won’t be surprised she chose to withhold her last name.
    1 Even if we’d been able to obtain Roman journals such as NOTITIAE, none of them contained English translations. But such an idea would never have occurred to a high school student or a college student growing up in the 1960s. 2 A number of shell corporations claim to own the various biblical translations mandated for Roman Catholics. They’ve made millions of dollars selling (!) these indulgenced texts. If time permits, we hope to enumerate these various shell corporations and explain: which texts they claim to own; how much they bring in each year; who runs them; and so forth. It would also be good to explore the morality of selling these indulgenced texts for a profit. Furthermore, for the last fifty years these organizations have employed several tactics to manipulate and bully others. If time permits, we will expose those tactics (including written examples). Some of us—who have been working on this problem for three decades—have amassed written documentation we’ll be sharing that demonstrates behavior at best “shady” and at worst criminal. 3 Again, we are not yet examining the morality of selling (!) indulgenced texts to Catholics mandated to use those same translations.
    —Guest Author
    “Music List” • 17th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (27 July 2025). 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 the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Communion • “Ask & You Shall Receive”
    All of the chants for 27 July 2025 have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (both text and melody) are exceedingly beautiful and ancient.
    —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

[Let there be:] “The Latin, the whole Latin, and nothing but the Latin.”

— Cardinal McIntyre (one of the Vatican II fathers)

Recent Posts

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  • “Music List” • 17th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
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  • Communion • “Ask & You Shall Receive”
  • Jeff’s Mother Joins Our Fundraiser

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