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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

“Polyphonic Sanctus” by J.S. Bach • Jeff Attempts All Voices (Even the Girls’ Vocals)

Jeff Ostrowski · January 30, 2024

NLY ONCE did I ever see FATHER VALENTINE YOUNG wearing ‘clerics’ (i.e. a black clerical suit with Roman collar). Normally, he wore his full Franciscan robes. The occasion I speak of is when Father Valentine stopped by our home to say goodbye. The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter had transferred him to an Apostolate where the local bishop was giving them trouble. The theory was that Father Valentine would ‘cool’ the situation, owing to his calm demeanor and sanctity. In all the years I knew him, he never once displayed even a hint of arrogance. As he walked out the front door, I observed my dad surreptitiously slip him a wad of cash. (My dad preferred to give alms without fanfare.)

Anastasia Rege • Years later, having observed an article I wrote in the ADOREMUS BULLETIN, Father Valentine wrote me an email (demonstrating his usual self-effacing manner): “Well, Jeff, at least I can say I know famous people.” I was reminded of these words this morning, when I received an amazing message from ANASTASIA REGE, a prominent New York conductor:

Jeff Ostrowski’s infectious passion for music is evident throughout his seminar, Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster, which calls us to be “on fire with love” for the music we make with our choirs. The seminar addresses every aspect of directing a church choir including in-depth rehearsal strategies, member retention, building community in your ensemble, repertoire selection, musical phrasing, navigating your role within the parish, communication with your ensemble, and more. Jeff addresses the myriad challenges a choirmaster may face with helpful tips, accessible techniques, and supportive teaching practices. Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster, along with the resources available on the Corpus Christi Watershed website, are invaluable to the modern church musician.

I am truly flattered by Anastasia’s words! I cordially invite readers to check out my seminar:

*  Seminar • “Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster”

Bach Sanctus (SATB)

As long as I’m “blowing my own horn” … I recently stumbled across an old recording of mine, where I attempt to sing all the vocal parts—even the girls’ parts—of a SANCTUS by Johann Sebastian Bach:

Free rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #87349 .

Sadness • Rehearsal videos for each individual voice, along with PDF score, are available free of charge at that “87349” link (above). But most readers will not follow that link—and that causes deep sadness in my soul.

Choral Lacuna

When I was in graduate school studying musicology, the professors seemed obsessed with certain words. One of those words was “dichotomy.” An unspoken rule said that students must include the word “dichotomy” in every paragraph, just as another unspoken rule said all titles must begin with the word towards.1

Another word they were obsessed with was “lacuna.” I’m hesitant to use it—but there really is a lacuna in the world of church music. Specifically, there’s a lacking when it comes to conductors’ abilities to instantly diagnose what must be fixed in a performance. Let me give an example. Below, you will find a recording made at our rehearsal. It’s a “first attempt” at singing the Bach Sanctus mentioned above:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Competent Choral Conductor • That recording has several very nice moments, but there are also flawed sections. The competent choral conductor must be able to instantly “analyze” or “diagnose” or “give a prognosis” for certain errors in a performance. Even better would be if the conductor knows how to “cure” or “remedy” or “fix” the errors. From what I can tell, conservatories do not put enough emphasis on this crucial skill.

P.S.
For the record, Father Valentine Young wore ‘clerics’ when he drove extremely long distances because it wasn’t that easy—for a man his age—to steer a car while dressed in Franciscan robes.

1 For example: Towards a History of the Spanish Villancico or Towards a New Poetics of Musical Influence or Towards a History of Viennese Chamber Music in the Early Classical Period or Towards an Ethnomusicology of Notation or Towards an Identification of Johannes Brahms or Towards an Analysis of the Performativity of Vocal Timbre or Towards an Ecomusicology of the Environmental Imagination or Towards an Ethics of Care in Musicology or (my favorite) Towards a Decolonial Musicology of the Anthropocene.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Adoremus Bulletin, Johann Sebastian Bach Choral Sanctus, The Competent Choral Conductor Last Updated: May 1, 2024

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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

    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

“It is profitable for me that shame hath covered my face so I may seek consolation in Thee rather than in men.” (From the Imitation of Christ by Father Thomas à Kempis)

— Cardinal Merry del Val’s Prayer-Book

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  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”

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