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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Natalia’s Message • “Explaining The Two Sections!”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 6, 2023

IEWING THIS FILM, you might think: “Wow, that’s an incredibly short video that probably took five seconds to create.” But I have been assisting SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS with the creation of some of these videos. Let me assure you: producing them takes longer than you could imagine. By the way, I was the one who recorded the background track (playing the pipe organ) so please don’t make any nasty comments about it!

Here’s the direct URL link.

There’s Work To Do • If you asked random Catholics to recite in English—without reference to a book—a stanza from the “Tantum Ergo” of Saint Thomas Aquinas, how many do you think could? If we’re honest, probably less than .05% could do that. Do you agree this situation is intolerable and must be remedied as soon as possible? Perhaps that’s one reason I keep pushing the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal, which is absolutely revolutionary in a multitude of different ways.

Making Your Life Easy! • The two sections (explained in the video above) demonstrate how an “average” parish can begin to expose members of the congregation to the rich treasury of Catholic sacred music (THESAURUS MUSICAE SACRAE). Needless to say, anyone who believes the status quo is acceptable would in all likelihood not want the Brébeuf Hymnal. Indeed, some have made comments like: “The Brébeuf is so different than the typical Protestant hymn book. Its editors should have tried to mimic Protestant hymnals.” Clearly, I disagree. For myself, I believe the status quo is completely unacceptable and we must do better. The Brébeuf collection—which includes the marvelous Choral Supplement and spiral-bound Organ Accompaniment—has completely revolutionized my choir rehearsals.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Thesaurus musicae sacrae Last Updated: September 6, 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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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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