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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

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

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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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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

“Franz Liszt was an eminent keyboard virtuoso but a dangerous example for the young. … As a composer he was terrible.”

— Clara Schumann

Recent Posts

  • “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
  • PDF Download • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) for your Children’s Choir

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