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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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President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 29th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 19 October 2025, which is the 29th 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 sensational feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“Perhaps he had too much sense of humour to be altogether a great man: he lacked pomposity.”

— Msgr. Ronald Knox writing about Father Adrian Fortescue

Recent Posts

  • Feast of the Jesuit Martyrs of North America
  • “Music List” • 29th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Fulton J. Sheen + this Sunday’s “Entrance Chant”
  • Children’s Repertoire • Three More Recommendations by Keven Smith
  • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major

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