• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

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.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

When Dr. Calabrese Addressed Me Personally

Jeff Ostrowski · May 19, 2024

HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNEASY when it comes to my skills as a vocalist. I entered the conservatory under SIMON CARRINGTON (who’d founded The King’s Singers in 1968) but was never chosen to sing in his elite ensemble. Granted, there were 375 other singers striving to be accepted into Carrington’s group each year, but I still felt … somewhat “inadequate,” I suppose would be the word. But during the most recent SACRED MUSIC SYMPOSIUM, one of the middle sections (which had a difficult tessitura) was struggling on the five-voice Salve Regina of Luca Marenzio. Dr. Calabrese in front of everybody summoned me, asking me to sing with them. Throughout the entire session, Dr. Calabrese kept saying to our section: “Listen to how Jeff sings that! Match Jeff’s tone exactly there! Follow Jeff in that spot! etc.” I suppose we all have certain events we’ll never forget. That was one for me. It’s one of the very few times my singing was ever complimented—and by an internationally-known conductor, no less! It made me feel like: “Maybe I am a halfway decent singer.”

Jeff’s Real Skill • One skill in which I feel confidence is my ability—perfected over a period of 25 years—to recruit “normal” Catholics from the pews and teach them how to sing well. Broadly speaking, these are people who possess no formal musical training whatsoever, yet under my direction they accomplish magnificent things. Indeed, some end up singing polyphony and plainchant better than professional choirs! I believe this is my special skill. I’ve learned to detect almost instantly which parts to focus on during rehearsal. Furthermore, I know how to “trick” the singers into tackling difficult things without becoming discouraged in the process. Consider the following ‘live’ recording from last week. This choir consists 100% of volunteer singers:

To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Learning Tricks • If you struggle to teach amateur choirs, you might consider amassing some “tricks” from a seminar I recently released called Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster. One thing I discuss in great detail is the use of CONTRAFACTUM, a favorite technique of George Frideric Handel (d. 1759) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (d. 1791). The hymn above is a type of CONTRAFACT, which takes as its text the oldest Latin Eucharistic hymn: viz. Sancti Veníte Christi Corpus Súmite. The English translation is by Father Herbert Thurston (d. 1939), based heavily on a version by Dr. Neale. Here’s the link for those interested in my seminar:

*  SEMINAR • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster

Conclusion • When I entered the Conservatory, I sang in “Concert Choir,” directed by Dr. James Daugherty (a choral methods professor). On the first day, he listened to us doing warm-ups then made a point of saying to his graduate teaching assistants, loud enough for the entire group to hear: “Wow, this group has a really nice sound. I’m really going to enjoy working with you.” As a young student, I remember the warm impression that made on me. Never forget to encourage your choirs. Praise them! Tell them when they sing well.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Father Herbert Thurston SJ, Rev Fr Adrian Fortescue Liturgy, Sancti Venite Eucharistic Last Updated: May 19, 2024

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

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).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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’ with regard to 1960s switch to vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 27th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 5 October 2025, which is the 27th 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 alongside the official texts in Latin. Readers will want to check out the ENTRANCE CHANT posted there, which has a haunting melody (in the DEUTERUS MODE) and extremely powerful text.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“We must strip from our Catholic prayers and from the Catholic liturgy everything which can be the shadow of a stumbling block for our separated brethren—that is, for the Protestants.”

— Monsignor Annibale Bugnini (March, 1965) in L’Osservatore Romano

Recent Posts

  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
  • “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
  • Involving Women in the Communion?
  • “Toward a More Sacred Style With Pastoral Charity” • Guest Article by Dr. Myrna Keough

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

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.