Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Kyrie for the Ordinary Form in Honor of Saint Thomas More”

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · September 23, 2023

HOSE WHO KNOW ME, or have read my writings, know of my special affection for the music of William Byrd. In my role at the parish of St. Rita in Dallas, I have designated the month of October to be especially dedicated to his music within the context of our liturgies. Each Sunday we will sing at least one work of Byrd’s, either in Mass or at Vespers (we sing Vespers each Sunday at 4pm). The inspiration for this exploration comes, most unsubtly, from a recent post by my colleague, Dr. Lucas Tappan, who referenced Westminster Cathedral and their singing of the entire Gradualia over the course of a calendar year. Understandably, our efforts come nowhere near this monumental undertaking. Yet, having a fairly substantial sampling of this repertoire in a condensed period will, I hope, bring to both our singers and our community a new perspective and appreciation for the genius of Byrd. Here is our music plan for the month of October.

Thomas More Kyrie • Some pieces are ‘standard’ repertoire, while others (Tantum ergo, for example) have been excerpted from various sources such as the Litanies of 1605. Another example is the adaptation of a short Kyrie from the Litanies which I am using as an extension of a chant Kyrie I composed in 2011. This use of choral extensions is being offered to us by Jeff Ostrowski in his recent posts, and I am a big fan.

* PDF Download • Kyrie in Honor of Saint Thomas More (ORDINARY FORM)
—Polyphony by William Byrd (d. 1623) • Plainsong by Alfred Calabrese.

Bringing Byrd To Life • Because we are a Novus Ordo parish, certain adaptations will be necessary regarding the length of some of the Ordinary sections. Purists will cringe at some cutting, but my feeling is this: better to see the name of Byrd printed and hear as much of the music as possible than to leave it enclosed in a dusty closet in some back room, never to see the light of day. This is a lot of music, some of it very tricky. Please pray for our efforts and give thanks to God for the music, life, and legacy of the great William Byrd.

Here’s the direct URL link.

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

About Dr. Alfred Calabrese

Dr. Alfred Calabrese is Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dallas, TX. He and his wife have two children.—(Read full biography).

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (Immaculate Concep.)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 8 December 2025, the feast of OUR LADY’S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. In Latin, the title of this feast is: In Conceptione Immaculata Beatae Mariae Virginis. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of December (2025)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Tournemire could be charming or he could bite your head off. One day I could not replace him at St. Clotilde because I had a wedding to play at another church. Tournemire played on Sunday, period—that was all. He did not play weddings and so forth. (He put all that on my back.) So I went to Tournemire’s house to tell him, “Master, I am sorry but, for once, I cannot replace you. I have another obligation to fulfill.” He said, “Get out of here!” I left for good.

— Testimony of Maurice Duruflé