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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

Archives for March 2024

Jeff Ostrowski · March 31, 2024

“Strangest Of All…” • (Fortescue)

In his illustrious 1912 tome—The Mass: A Study Of The Roman Liturgy—Father Adrian Fortescue spoke of sequences, writing: “Strangest of all were the vernacular sequences in France and Germany, or those partly vernacular and partly Latin.” Our volunteer choir experimented with that on Holy Thursday, mixing Latin verses with an English refrain. For the record, […]

Jeff Ostrowski · March 27, 2024

“Saint Felix Creed” • Musical Setting for the Nicene Creed (Roman Missal, 3rd Edition)

Dedicated to my brother, Father Mark Ostrowski.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 26, 2024

Good Friday’s Dazzling (and Ancient) Hymn

Visit a random church on Sunday morning and ask parishioners basic questions…

Jeff Ostrowski · March 25, 2024

“Stabat Mater Dolorosa” • Four (4) Choral Settings

With a digression on ‘drab’ modern architecture.

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 25, 2024

“Spotted in the Wild” • (CCWatershed Members)

This clip was sent to us. The conductor is Martin Baker!

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 25, 2024

Clarence Thomas Speaks About The Eucharist

Justice Clarence Thomas attended the seminary for several years, including “Conception” (north of Kansas City).

Jeff Ostrowski · March 25, 2024

William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”

Working with volunteers can be discouraging, but always remember there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Yesterday, during PALM SUNDAY MASS, our 100% volunteer choir pulled out the SANCTUS from William Byrd’s “Mass for Five Voices.”  This colossal performance was the result. (They literally didn’t know I was going to have them sing that […]

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 24, 2024

PDF Download • “Holy Week Music Schedule” • Saint Mary’s in Norwalk, Connecticut

Expect to hear Morales, Palestrina, Victoria, Pierre de la Rue, Tallis, Haydn, Gounod, Rovetta, Lassus, Byrd, Senfl, Taverner, Wingham, and more.

Fr. David Friel · March 23, 2024

Book Review: Good Music, Sacred Music, and Silence

Becoming Missionaries for the Beautiful

Jeff Ostrowski · March 22, 2024

“Victimæ Paschali Laudes” • Thirty-One (31) Different Versions — Including Organ Accompaniments

This version by Father Adrian Fortescue is fascinating!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 22, 2024

“Reprehensible Chrism Mass” • (Do Not Click)

A disturbing video sent to us from the Diocese of Superior (Wisconsin).

Jeff Ostrowski · March 19, 2024

Church Music • “The Female Voice”

Msgr. Leo Manzetti foolishly wrote: “Church musicians, when experts in vocal art, agree that women’s voices are effeminate, sensuous, and operatic, hence un-churchly.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 18, 2024

“Simplified” Accomp. (1,700 downloads)

The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 1,700 times in a matter of hours. Therefore, folks seem interested in such a project.

Dr. Charles Weaver · March 16, 2024

Response to Jeff: Rhythmic Signs Again

I propose that we consider Dom Pothier’s method without making an unnecessary appeal to authority.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 15, 2024

Jeff Ostrowski Attempts to Sing the Easter Introit

I opted for the Church’s official rhythm.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Samaritánæ” (3rd Sunday of Lent)
    With regard to the COMMUNION for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (Year A), the Ordo Cantus Missae—which was published in 1969 by the Vatican, bearing Hannibal Bugnini’s signature and approbation in its PREFACE—inexplicably introduced a variant melody and slightly different words, as you can see by this comparison chart. When it comes to such items, they’re always done in secrecy by unnamed people. (Although it is known that Dom Eugène Cardine collaborated in the creation of the GRADUALE SIMPLEX, a book considered by some to be a travesty.)
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Cantus Mariales” (192 pages)
    Andrea Leal has posted an absolutely pristine scan of CANTUS MARIALES (192 pages) which can be downloaded as a PDF file. To access this treasure, navigate to the frabjous article Andrea posted Monday. The file is being offered completely free of charge. The beginning pages of the book have something not to be missed: viz. a letter from Pope Saint Pius X to Dom Pothier, in which the pope calls Abbat Pothier “a man versed above all others in the science of liturgy, and to whom the cause of Gregorian chant is greatly indebted.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Grotesque Pairing • “Passion Chorale”
    One of our rarest releases was undoubtably this PDF scan of the complete Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) by Father Joseph Roff, a student of Healey Willan. One of the scarcest titles in existence, this book was provided to us by Mr. Peter Meggison. Back in 2018, we scanned each page and uploaded it to our website, making it freely available to everyone. Readers are probably sick of hearing me say this, but just because we upload something that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wonderful or worthy of imitation. We upload many publications precisely because they are ‘grotesque’, interesting, or revealing. Whereas the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal had an editorial board that was careful and sensitive vis-à-vis pairing texts with tunes, the Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) seems to have been rather reckless in this regard. Please take a look at what they did with the PASSION CHORALE and see whether you agree.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Extreme Unction
    Those who search Google for “CCCC MS 079” will discover high resolution images of a medieval Pontificale (“Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 079”). One of the pages contains this absolutely gorgeous depiction of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”
    I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“As late as 1834, British society had many restrictions on any person not adhering to the Anglican church. For example, Roman Catholics could not attend a university, serve on a city council, be a member of Parliament, serve in the armed forces, or even serve on a jury.”

— Regarding the Church of Henry VIII

Recent Posts

  • “Samaritánæ” (3rd Sunday of Lent)
  • Grotesque Pairing • “Passion Chorale”
  • PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
  • PDF • “Cantus Mariales” (192 pages)
  • PDF Download • Fourteen (14) Versions of the Splendid Hymn: “Salve Mater Misericordiae”

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