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

Corpus Christi Watershed

We’re a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2006. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and run no advertisements. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors.

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • 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
  • 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

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —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

Thus the priest-celebrant, putting on the person of Christ, alone offers sacrifice, and not the people, nor clerics, nor even priests who reverently assist. All, however, can and should take an active part in the Sacrifice. “The Christian people, though participating in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, do not thereby possess a priestly power,” We stated in the Encyclical Mediator Dei (AAS, vol 39, 1947, p. 553).

— Pope Pius XII (2 November 1954)

Recent Posts

  • Hidden Gem: Ascendit Deus (Dalitz)
  • PDF Download • Soprano Descant — “Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above”
  • “Dom Jausions had a skilled hand. His transcriptions are masterpieces of neatness & precision.”
  • Pope Leo XIV pays tribute to Palestrina
  • PDF Download • Palestrina’s “Ave Maria”

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.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up