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Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for November 2023

Dr. Charles Weaver · November 12, 2023

A Classic Example of Modal Modulation

We can think of the modes and their traditional characters in a dynamic way, and it can help us to have a little more shape and direction in our singing.

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 11, 2023

PDF Download • “Wedding March” (For The Lazy Organist)

This afternoon, it was suggested to me that I write down (“notate”) the arrangement I use.

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 10, 2023

Hymn • “Feast of Christ’s Kingship”

A wonderful text for the feast of Christ the King is: “Conquering Kings Their Titles Take.” We’re currently working on creating a professional recording. Until that’s complete, we’ve posted these preliminary versions. You might want to consider this hymn for the upcoming solemnity of Christ’s Kingship.

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Dr. Charles Weaver · November 9, 2023

Report • “Musical Shape of the Liturgy Conference”

This week I attended part of an excellent academic conference in honor of William Mahrt.

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 9, 2023

“Organ Interlude” (Dom Gregory Murray)

In my humble opinion, Dom Gregory Murray (d. 1992) was a splendid composer. Here’s my attempt to perform one of his INTERLUDES on the pipe organ. I’m not a “concert organist” so I deeply appreciate any feedback—especially about registration. By the way, you can download a fantastic collection of ORGAN INTERLUDES—all 104 pages completely free […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 9, 2023

November Reminder • Please help!

Many still don’t know about our email newsletter! Please sign up! Simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address. It helps us very much when you join our mailing list. Thank you!

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2023

1950s Mandatory Military Service? Huh?

I would be very curious to know what readers think about this claim made by Patrick J. Buchanan. He says military service in the 1950s was obligatory in the United States. Is this true? Let me know your thoughts by scrolling to the bottom of this page, where an email address is provided. Patrick J. […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2023

“No Fourth Sunday of Advent” (EF)

In the Extraordinary Form (“Missale Vetustum”) because Christmas falls on a Monday in 2023, the Vigil of the Nativity of Our Lord takes precedence over the Fourth Sunday of Advent. This usually only happens about every six years or so. I will miss the 4th Sunday of Advent, but the VIGIL Mass is also quite […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 5, 2023

When just 13 years old, Beethoven……

Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (WTC) was not officially published until 1801. By that time, many hand-copied manuscripts had circulated through Europe. According to Charles Rosen: “Beethoven, at the age of 13, played the entire WTC in public.” His feat was published in the newspapers of that time. In my view, both books of the WTC—with a […]

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Corpus Christi Watershed · November 4, 2023

Kevin Allen … for 500 Altar Servers!

Corpus Christi Watershed was sent this fascinating message vis-à-vis motets of Kevin Allen being sung in a Mass with 500+ altar servers present. If anyone has more information, we would love to hear more details about this event!

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 4, 2023

PDF • Draft Booklet “Couture Chant” (255 Pages)

This is very much a “work in progress”…

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 3, 2023

Dissonant Chord? • (not in context)

If you play nothing but the notes and chord highlighted by yellow in this passage from the “Haec Dies” Gradual, it’s quite ugly and dissonant. However, in the context of the stepwise descending bass-line, the LEMMENSINSTITUUT does not disappoint!

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Calling Dr. Weaver!

    A remarkable exposition of the “mora vocis” (published in 1953 in the Netherlands) which doesn’t shy away from a certain item!

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    SLANE • “Simplified” Keyboard Arr.

    Do you know ‘SLANE’ the hymn tune?

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Insane Baroque-Era Dissonance!
    The sumptuous melody called “JESU LEIDEN PEIN UND TOD” appears no fewer than three times in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal and is harmonized with standard Common Practice Era SATB voice leading and harmonies (which is only natural). However, one who takes the time to examine what Sebastian Bach did with that tune will encounter an incredibly dissonant sound. As far as I’m concerned, there is no more dissonant sound—in the entire Baroque era—than what I highlighted in yellow on that excerpt. Please let me know if you disagree.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    ‘Ould’ But Not Good
    Dom Samuel Gregory Ould (note the spelling) was a Benedictine monk at FORT AUGUSTUS ABBEY in Scotland. As musician, organist, and composer, Dom Ould was highly regarded. Moreover, he was considered an authority on Gregorian Chant. But not everything found in an old book—or, in this case, an “Ould” book—is necessarily praiseworthy. Consider this page from Dom Ould’s hymnal. Do you see the rhymes? They offend severely by ABR (“Abuse By Reuse”) and are utterly predictable. In my recent article—Two Ways to Defile a Hymn—I addressed this topic.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reader Feedback” • 22 June 2026
    A reader wrote to us from Virginia: “I really appreciate the 23 harmonizations that you posted on CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED for the Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary hymn. I hope to find willing voices in our small Schola Cantorum to try the three-voice version. Carry on, sir! You’re doing the Lord’s work.” While we don’t know this gentleman personally, we note that he earned a Ph.D. (which demonstrates that our blog has something for everybody). 😊
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Time and Again We Are Asked…
    John Baptist Singenberger (d. 1924) was a central figure of Catholic Church music. In this utterly fascinating excerpt (Single-Page PDF), Singenberger writes: Time and again we are asked: “Is the Gregorian chant to be accompanied by the organ?” As a young student in Saint Gall, Singenberger befriended SEBASTIAN GEBHARD MESSMER, the future Archbishop of Milwaukee (Wisconsin). The two graduated together in 1861. The school they attended (Saint George’s Seminary) was a “seminary”—but in the older European sense. In other words, it provided a classical education without necessarily leading to ordination. Singenberger remained a layman his whole life, but Messmer was eventually made archbishop—by Pope Saint Pius X—of the very archdiocese in Wisconsin where Singenberger would spend his American career, giving him a powerful ecclesiastical ally.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“There’s a world of difference between a thoughtful, wise Catholic and a bitter contrarian. In spite of what is claimed on certain blogs, being addicted to cable news and twitter does not make one an intellectual.”

— Jeff Ostrowski

Recent Posts

  • Calling Dr. Weaver!
  • “A Catholic Choir Director’s Decalogue” • Jeff’s Personal Odyssey (10 Points)
  • SLANE • “Simplified” Keyboard Arr.
  • “Taking Over an Inner City School Choir” • Rebecca’s Story
  • Insane Baroque-Era Dissonance!

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