• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

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.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
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

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    “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

Random Quote

He stood firm against nepotism, rebuking his predecessor Pope Pius IV to his face when he wanted to make a 13-year-old member of his family a cardinal and subsidize a nephew from the papal treasury.

— Re: Pope Saint Pius V (d. 1572)

Recent Posts

  • Children’s Repertoire • Three More Recommendations by Keven Smith
  • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
  • PDF Download • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) for your Children’s Choir
  • Latin Liturgy Association
  • Important Quote by a Church Musician

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

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.