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Views from the Choir Loft

“Not Schmaltzy” • An Ancient Christmas Hymn

Jeff Ostrowski · December 22, 2023

ATHER VALENTINE used to say: De gustibus non est disputandum. “In matters of taste, let there be no dispute.” For example, he didn’t like the Lemmensinstituut accompaniments—which should come as no surprise since he studied under the John de Deo Oldegeering, OFM, a legendary plainsong instructor who followed the Mocquereau-Bragers school. I try not emphasize my opinions unduly on this blog. That’s a quick way to make lifelong enemies. For example, I consider the hymn tune “SANDON” to be just dreadful—but should I dwell on that? Surely it’s better to emphasize the positive.

Christmas Carols • Speaking of opinions, there are certain Christmas carols I find so “sentimental” or “schmaltzy” or “gooey” or “saccharine” that—in my personal opinion—they don’t belong at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. One that comes to mind immediately: O Little town of Bethlehem. I realize others will disagree. Contrariwise, an ancient Christmas hymn that’s robust is Christe Redemptor Omnium (whose title was changed in 1631AD to Jesu Redemptor Omnium). Do you agree the English translation by Robert Campbell of Skerrington is fabulous?

Just look how faithful Campbell was to the original:

*  PDF Download • COMPARISON CHART
—Literal translation Vs. a poetic translation by Robert Campbell of Skerrington.

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

English Primers • The Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal printed ancient translations from ENGLISH PRIMERS. I’m talking about Roman Catholic translations into English from the 1500s—which were intended for singing—of ancient Latin hymns. (The Brébeuf editors found explicit proof that these translations were intended to be sung, not just read.) We don’t have permission to reprint them on this blog, but let me just assure you they’re endlessly fascinating:

Robert Campbell + Saint Augustine:

Not every translation by Robert Campbell 1 is literal. Consider Campbell’s famous version of Ad Cenam Agni Providi (“At the Lamb’s high feast we sing”). It’s not really a translation. Rather, Campbell uses the original text as a springboard for his own thoughts. Consider “after the crossing of the red sea.” Campbell relates this “red sea” to the blood and water that flowed from Christ’s side on the cross, so crossing the red sea now means being washed by the blood and water from the Heart of Jesus. Indeed, Saint Augustine (Enn. in Ps. CXXXVIII) says: Ex latere Domini dormientis, id est, in passione morientis, et in cruce percusso de lancea, manaverunt sacramenta, quibus formaretur Ecclesia. (“From the side of the Lord sleeping, that is, dying in his passion, and pierced by a spear on the cross, flowed the sacraments whereby the Church would be formed.”) For the record, Corpus Christi Watershed is named in honor of “water shed” from the Heart of Christ.

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

1 According to a footnote in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal, Robert Campbell of Skerrington converted to the True Faith in 1852.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Christe Redemptor Omnium Xmas, Jesu Redemptor Omnium, Robert Campbell of Skerrington Last Updated: December 23, 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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • “Polyphonic Extension” (Kevin Allen) for Gloria III
    EVIN ALLEN was commissioned by Sacred Music Symposium 2025 to compose a polyphonic ‘middle section’ for the GLORIA from Mass III, often denoted by its trope name: Missa Kyrie Deus sempiterne. This year, I’m traveling from Singapore to serve on the symposium faculty. I will be conducting Palestrina’s ‘Ave Maria’ as well as teaching plainsong to the men. A few days ago, I was asked to record rehearsal videos for this beautiful polyphonic extension. (See below.) This polyphonic composition fits ‘inside’ GLORIA III. That is, the congregation sings for the beginning and end, but the choir alone adds polyphony to the middle. The easiest way to understand how everything fits together is by examining this congregational insert. You may download the score, generously made available to the whole world—free of charge—by CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED:
    *  PDF Download • Gloria III ‘Middle Section’ (Kevin Allen)
    Free rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #24366. Related News • My colleague, Jeff Ostrowski, composed an organ accompaniment for this same GLORIA a few months ago. Obviously, the organist should drop out when the polyphony is being sung.
    —Corrinne May
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Yahweh” in church songs?
    My pastor asked me to write a weekly column for our parish bulletin. The one scheduled to run on 22 June 2025 is called “Three Words in a Psalm” and speaks of translating the TETRAGRAMMATON. You can read the article at this column repository. All of them are quite brief because I was asked to keep within a certain word limit.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    When to Sit, Stand and Kneel like it’s 1962
    There are lots of different guides to postures for Mass, but I couldn’t find one which matched our local Latin Mass, so I made this one: sit-stand-kneel-crop
    —Veronica Brandt
    The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum
    Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.
    —Daniel Tucker

Random Quote

Impelled by the weightiest of reasons, we are fully determined to restore Latin to its position of honor, and to do all We can to promote its study and use. The employment of Latin has recently been contested in many quarters, and many are asking what the mind of the Apostolic See is in this matter. We have therefore decided to issue the timely directives contained in this document, so as to ensure that the ancient and uninterrupted use of Latin be maintained and, where necessary, restored.”

— Pope John XXIII (22 February 1962)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Polyphonic Extension” (Kevin Allen) for Gloria III
  • “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
  • PDF Download • “Text by Saint Francis of Assisi” (choral setting w/ organ: Soprano & Alto)
  • “Yahweh” in church songs?
  • “Music List” • Pentecost Sunday

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

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