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Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

A Message From Mr. Roderick Royce!

Corpus Christi Watershed · January 21, 2024

R. RODERICK ROYCE graduated from BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY (Idaho) with a bachelor’s degree in music education. He has sung in multiple choirs through the years, including the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist (Roman Catholic) under Dr. Ray Morvant. He has taught orchestra for about thirteen years. Mr. Royce recently sent the following message vis-à-vis Jeff Ostrowski’s seminar: “Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster”.

Jeff Ostrowski is a choirmaster based in Los Angeles, California. He and a group of individuals have created the Corpus Christi Watershed website to supply musicians with musical resources for Catholic choirs. Ostrowski’s latest resource is a seminar: Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster. The seminar is focused on choral music (motets, hymns, Mass settings, and so forth) useful to those who provide music at the Extraordinary Form (“Latin Mass”) or at the Ordinary Form (“Novus Ordo Missae”). Ostrowski introduces techniques and tools to help choirmasters improve as musicians and fall in love with the art of learning choral music all over again. Various items are treated: singing liturgical pieces of Catholic Music in Latin (including polyphonic pieces); Gregorian Chant, which is written in different modes; video recordings; and printable sheet music. Ostrowski teaches the choirmaster to better direct anybody—from an ‘average’ parishioner to the veteran choir member—how to sing hymnody in SATB parts and contrapuntal lines in polyphonic masterworks. He explains how to ‘build up’ the individual to add to the strength of the choir. He also encourages choirs to pray before rehearsals to strengthen their Catholic faith. Ostrowski has a “just do it” mentality. He patiently shows how to ‘speak’ and use Solfège on the most inspiring and difficult polyphonic pieces. Specimens he examines would include fugues and masterworks using imitative polyphony by Palestrina, Victoria, Guerrero, Croft, Morley, Lassus, and Josquin. After watching his seminar, I am more prepared to spend rehearsal time wisely, communicate effectively, and apply the tools he has taught me to help improve choir members.

You can watch the 57-minute INTRODUCTION to “Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster” completely free of charge by visiting https://ccwatershed.org/seminar/.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 21, 2024

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Before any seminarian is accepted for ordination, he must not only strive for chastity but actually achieve it. He must already be living chaste celibacy peacefully and for a prolonged period of time—for if this be lacking, the seminarian and his formators cannot have the requisite confidence that he is called to the celibate life.”

— Archbishop Viganò (16 February 2019)

Recent Posts

  • Why A “Fugue” Here?
  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)

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