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).

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)

I’d much rather hear an organist play a simplified version correctly than listen to wrong notes. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #729 in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal. The hymn is “O Jesus Christ, Remember.” 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 1,900 times in a matter of hours—so there seems to be interest in such a project. For the record, this famous text is often married to AURELIA, as it is in the Brébeuf Hymnal. The lyrics come from the pen of Father Edward Caswall (d. 1878), an Oratorian priest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase

Father Adrian Porter, using the cracher dans la soupe example, did a praiseworthy job explaining the difference between ‘dynamic’ and ‘formal’ translation. This is something Monsignor Ronald Knox explained time and again—yet even now certain parties feign ignorance. I suppose there will always be people who pretend the only ‘valid’ translation of Mitigásti omnem iram tuam; avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ… would be “You mitigated all ire of you; you have averted from your indignation’s ire.” Those who would defend such a translation suffer from an unfortunate malady. One of my professors called it “cognate on the brain.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (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

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

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski