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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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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

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —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

“Been to Catholic church and heard Mass. Execrable music! Organ played by a young girl who made impossible harmonies. Sermon very long. The preacher screamed loud enough to tire his lungs. The congregation was affected.”

— Louis Moreau Gottschalk (8 May 1864)

Recent Posts

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  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

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