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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

Excellent Choral Sound • “How Best Obtain This?”

Jeff Ostrowski · June 15, 2024

N AN EPISODE of Jackie Gleason’s HONEYMOONERS called The Bensonhurst Bomber (broadcast on 8 September 1956) at marker 19:07 Ralph Kramden says to Ed Norton: “I know all about getting out of it gracefully—but how do you get out of it gracefully?” This line comes to mind whenever I hear a famous American adage: Work smarter, not harder. The real question for the conscientious choirmaster is: “How can one work smarter?” Soliciting advice can be helpful sometimes—but not always. The fact is, many musicians proffer bad advice (to anyone who will listen). Others provide advice not oriented towards one’s particular strengths, weaknesses, circumstances, or goals. But today I will share some good advice that comes from Dr. James Daugherty.

Excellent Choral Sound • Dr. James Daugherty was a professor of choral methods at the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS. By means of a short phrase, Dr. Daugherty gave away the secret of an excellent choral sound: Weak voices sing out, strong voices pull back. Another way to say this would be: “Let loud voices sing softer while soft voices sing louder.” Still another way to say the same thing would be: Dark voices sing out, bright voices pull back. The following example—recorded ‘live’ on Trinity Sunday (26 May 2024) by my choir, which consists 100% of volunteers—demonstrates what I’m talking about. Listen to the beautiful choral sound produced when weak voices sing out and strong voices pull back:

Here’s the direct URL link.

No Rehearsal Time? • The conscientious choirmaster has a duty to recruit people from the pews and teach them sacred music. (For the record, pastors are obligated to pay the choirmaster a “just wage”—yet this seldom happens.) That means the conscientious choirmaster often ends up with choir members who can’t read music. But what can we do when there isn’t sufficient rehearsal time for the PROPRIUM MISSAE? I believe having your choir sing a psalm tone for the Propers is better than “getting through” them in an inartistic way that’s painful to listen to. Indeed, when CARMEN GREGORIANUM is sung poorly, the faithful can develop a contempt for it—and can we blame them? The music at Mass should sound holy (i.e. “set apart”). When Gregorian chant is sung poorly—or too slowly—it ceases to sound holy. But a psalm tone version, although not as difficult as the full Gregorian proper, sounds holy.1

Forbidden To Opine • People on the internet sometimes claim it’s “wrong” or “lazy” or “cheating” to use a psalm tone, but such people (usually) haven’t stood before a choir in real life. For that reason, we can ignore everything they say. We should only seek advice from musicians who have stood in front of a choir in real life. Monsignor Skeris used to ask over and over: “What does his choir sound like?” The point he was trying to make was simple: how one’s choir sounds instantaneously conveys whether somebody should be listened to on the subject of liturgical music. [Similarly, one can discern parents’ skills by observing how their children turned out, not by listening to them pontificate about parenting on Twitter or Facebook.] Over the last fifteen years, it’s broken my heart to see certain Catholic gatherings—even those dedicated to the liturgy and sacred music!—choosing presenters who have never stood in front of a choir in real life. Even some national gatherings routinely choose presenters who have never directed a parish choir, or who have done so with mediocre success.2

Reform of the Reform? • CARMEN GREGORIANUM, if sung moderately well, has the power to evoke sacrality instantly. One’s mind is immediately “pulled” or “summoned” or “lifted up” to that which is holy (i.e. ‘other’). Additionally, I believe that silence is powerful during the Holy Mass. How many of us would describe the typical Mass celebrated in the Ordinary Form as serene? On the contrary, the post-conciliar Mass too often engenders constant “busyness.” I believe modifications will someday be made to the post-conciliar Mass. In particular, I believe periods of silence will be added to it. But that time is not now. These changes will have to be made by a later generation of priests and bishops. Currently, there’s just too much liturgical confusion, contradiction, scandal, and anarchy. Indeed, I was recently told of a cardinal bewildered by so many young priests wanting to offer the Mass using the Church’s traditional lingua sacra. This cardinal—who shall remain nameless—said:

“I simply can’t imagine why any priest would voluntarily offer Mass in Latin, the language used by the soldiers who put Jesus to death.”

Can you imagine? This high-ranking cleric was condemning Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint John Bosco, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Bonaventure, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Padre Pio, Saint John Mary Vianney, Saint Thomas Aquinas—and thousands of others!—to say nothing of the explicit mandates of the Second Vatican Council. No, the time for reform is not now … but perhaps it will take place before I die.

1 The world has Mr. Benjamin Bloomfield to thank for his magnificent work with GABC. Bloomfield has solved, once and for all, the problem of generating psalm tones. He cannot be commended highly enough for what he created.
2 To illustrate my point, consider RUGBY (an Olympic sport). I’ve never played Rugby in real life; would it make sense to hire me to give presentations on Rugby at a national gathering? Neither does it make sense to hire presenters for national gatherings who have never proven their abilities in a real parish. By the way, singing in a choir is not the same as directing a choir. Furthermore, conducting a college choir—or even a seminary choir—isn’t the same as directing a parish choir.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Benjamin Bloomfield, Carmen Gregorianum, Jackie Gleason, Novus Ordo Busyness Last Updated: June 16, 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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “21 September 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 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
    It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

At the Catholic gathering (Katholikentag) held at Breslau in August, the Papal Nuncio celebrated Mass for 80,000 participants, facing the people (the “Missa versus populum”).

— “Orate Fratres” Magazine (23 Jan. 1927)

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