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Views from the Choir Loft

“Secret Trick” of Jeff Ostrowski • Re: Singing Amen

Jeff Ostrowski · October 25, 2023

F YOU LISTEN to recordings of the great monasteries, they often do something cool when it comes to singing AMEN at the end of hymn. Over the years, I have adopted this “trick.” Today, I’d like to share it with our readers. From an aesthetic point of view, I hate hearing everybody present “pile on” for the AMEN, making an unpleasantly raucous sound. A more sophisticated and beautiful way—in my humble opinion—is to have one of the antiphonal choirs sing the AMEN. It’s important to recall that the tradition of the church doesn’t have everybody singing everything all the time. As Saint Paul says: “Faith cometh by hearing.”

An Example • In the following video, the AMEN is sung that way at marker 1:42. I’m curious to know your thoughts:

To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

More To Learn • You can learn a lot more about this hymn for the souls in Purgatory—most especially the translation of the original Latin into English—if you visit this link. A wise priest wrote to us and pointed out how the hymn “mirrors” or “reflects” or “is based upon” Psalm 129: De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine…

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: De profundis clamavi ad Te Domine, De Profundis Exclamantes Audi, HYMN for SOULS in PURGATORY Last Updated: October 25, 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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Quick Thoughts

    Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
    As I explained in my article posted earlier today, Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland is actually a Catholic tune (in spite of what some have claimed). The volunteer choir I direct sang that beautiful ADVENT melody last Sunday, and I invite you to listen to the live recording. It will get better the more we sing it.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Message from the Vice-President!
    The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn
    A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!”   Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The unity of language in the liturgy is so great a treasure for the Church that no advantage could compensate for its demise.”

— Dom Anselmo Albareda (2 January 1953), Father Nicola Giampietro, page 249

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