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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • Spanish Responsorial Psalm — “17th Sunday in Ordinary Time” (Year B)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 16, 2024

OT ONE. I’m not aware of a single website or blog—except for ours—which delves into the psychology behind directing choirs in the Roman Catholic Church. I’m talking about articles which “build up” (mentally) aspiring choirmasters, speak in earnest about obstacles they can expect, provide guidance on avoiding discouragement, and so forth. We also give ‘tips’ and little bits of advice, such as an article I remember by Dr. Tappan wherein he encouraged choirmasters to let children from the parish tinker around on the pipe organ after Mass (which can result in them wanting to take lessons). How is it possible that ours are the only authors writing about such things? I don’t know … but perhaps it has something to do with a “reluctance” or “fear” on the part of choir directors to show vulnerability or deficiency. In other words, maybe they’re afraid that discussing their shortcomings publicly might scare off potential employers.

Promoting Young Composers • I’ll say more about this in a moment. First, I promised to promote the CHAUMONOT COMPOSERS GROUP. Here’s my attempt to record their Responsorial Psalm for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B:

*  PDF Download • 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
—Musical setting by the CHAUMONOT COMPOSERS GROUP.

Here’s the direct URL link.

Vulnerabilities • The conscientious choirmaster must wake up each morning and call to mind something important: The planet has no shortage of haters. We must never let criticism by ‘haters’ bother us. We must strive to block them from our minds, the same way we “give no quarter” to temptations against the holy virtue of purity. Remember that for every 1,000 haters who cast stones and use derogatory language, there’s usually only one person willing to do something positive to help build up the Catholic Church. I’m sad to say that many of the articles by “liturgical conservatives” basically just repeat the same things over and over: They are smart and cultured; everyone else is a dumb philistine; and so on. Very few offer positive solutions.

Our Duty • We have a duty to encourage others striving to elevate the sacred liturgy. If we don’t do that, who else is going to? You will notice I posted a rehearsal video (see above) in spite of the fact that it contains many flaws. I’m clearly not a native Spanish speaker. But people who never offer anything because they’re waiting for it to be “perfect” will go to their graves without ever having produced anything. They’ll go to their graves without ever having learned anything or matured in any way. They’ll go to their graves without ever having offered anything in the service of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Chaumonot Composers Group, Free Spanish Responsorial Psalms, Psalmi Responsorii Cum Suis Responsis, Psalmus Responsorius Last Updated: September 19, 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

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “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

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“Abbat Pothier’s great accomplishment is having returned to the Catholic world—along with the traditional melody—the traditional way of performing it. The foundations laid by this providential man have been accepted by all those who practice Gregorian chant.”

— Dr. Peter Wagner (Commissionis Pontificiæ Gregorianæ Membrum)

Recent Posts

  • Luis Martínez Must Go!
  • Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
  • PDF Download • “Gospel Acclamation” for 29 June (Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles)
  • “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
  • Available! • Free Rehearsal Videos for Agnus Dei “Mille Regretz” after Gombert (d. 1560)

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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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