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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

“Reader Feedback” • 29 April 2024

Corpus Christi Watershed · April 29, 2024

Jeff Ostrowski Writes: “We love receiving messages from readers. The following email—from a lady named Charlotte—came in response to an article about wedding prices posted on 19 April 2024. The document I posted seems to have been welcome; it was downloaded more than 1,240 times. I never know which posts will be of interest to our readers; e.g. I wish I could get 1,240 people to watch the (free) 51-minute introduction to my seminar.”

The following came from Charlotte M.
[We usually redact names for anonymity’s sake.]

EAR JEFFREY: Thanks so much for your recent article about wedding prices. I loathe playing at weddings. The compensation is always too low for what we’re asked to do. Our parish only suggests $125 per musician (accompanist or cantor) which is minuscule considering my husband and I paid our musicians $100 each nearly 20 years ago! I’m not paid any salary for my services on Sunday, despite accompanying two Masses most weekends. Plus, I direct a children’s choir. No musician in our parish (and probably our archdiocese) is paid, despite the many, many hours we put in. But seeing your suggested payments makes me realize I could ask for more. Perhaps I will even get brave enough someday to ask for a small stipend for my regular Sunday work. Weddings I loathe … mainly because it’s all about the bride’s “perfect day”, and I don’t think a single wedding has happened without at least one inappropriate song request (despite my lengthy standard email full of suggestions and YouTube links to more appropriate material). I’m left as the “bad guy” when I refuse such requests. I attend an Ordinary Form parish, meaning most people who get married here do not have a serious attachment to our faith (I’m sorry to report). To top it all off, I frequently am forced to “chase down” couples for payment, although I like your idea of them paying 30 days in advance.

Funerals, on the other hand, I love. They are, in a sense, no less time-consuming for me, but it’s time I spend joyfully. The most common scenario is that, sadly, the children and grandchildren of the deceased are no longer practicing their faith, but having a funeral Mass was important to their loved one. I take the time to walk them through the Mass and what music is available to them to pick. When they are at a genuine loss for what to pick, I will ask questions to get to know their mom/dad/grandparents and ask about what kinds of things they had at home: Did they have a favourite Rosary? A statute of Mary? What kind of art did they display (sometimes gives clues to a devotion to a saint, etc.)? I can usually zero in on hymns that will light up their face and have meaning. It’s a journey I love walking with them. Plus, I am always paid on time and sometimes find extra in the envelope … so that’s a nice change! I really enjoy this type of post in which you share the nitty-gritty of the mechanics of how you do your job. A lot of us either make it up as we go along, or inherit a system of “well, that’s how it’s always been”—which is frustrating to say the least! Now that my busy season for my paying job is coming to an end for another year—I do admin work for my local performing arts festival, because as many musicians know, it’s hard to have “playing music” as your only job!—I might actually have time to devote to your seminar! Thanks for your organization and may God bless you.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Catholic Wedding Nuptial Mass Music, CCWatershed Feedback, Reader Feedback Corpus Christi Watershed Last Updated: August 5, 2024

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “The Worm That Dieth Not”
    My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin with reflections on the sacred liturgy and church music. In my most recent article, I discuss “The Worm That Dieth Not.” At this website, you can access it conveniently; simply scroll down to the one dated 31 August 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 21st in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir returns on Sunday, 24 August 2025. Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for it, which is the 21st 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 spectacular feasts website. When it comes to the feast of the Assumption (15 August 2025), I have uploaded the music list for that Mass—but not the “bi-lingual” Mass in the evening (Spanish, Latin, and English) which has completely different music.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“The recitation of the Office of the Dead, the Christmas Office, the spectacle of the days of Holy Week, the sublime chant of the Exultet, beside which the most intoxicating accents of Sophocles and Pindar seemed to me to be insignificant—all of this overwhelmed me with respect and joy, with gratitude, repentance, and adoration!”

— Paul Claudel (1913)

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