Views from the Choir Loft

PDF • “Organ Interludes” (Manuals Only) — 104 Pages

Andrea Leal · August 22, 2024

This article first appeared on our
blog two years ago. We feel it’s
worth running again, although
we usually eschew “re-posts”
out of respect for our readers.

XCITING NEWS! Mr. Stephen Perez is offering a terrific collection of modal organ interludes as a free PDF download. Many of these interludes are based on the most beloved Gregorian chant melodies: Pange Lingua, Ave Maris Stella, Lauda Sion, Puer Natus, Creator Alme Siderum, Ave Maria, Vidi Aquam, Vexilla Regis, Veni Creator Spiritus, Assumpta Est Maria, and so forth. The selections were chosen with great care, including marvelous composers such as Flor Peeters, Dom Gregory Murray, Dom Alphege Shebbeare, John Lee, Oreste Ravanello, J.S. Bach, and many others. Best of all, these interludes are within reach of the ‘average’ organist, since they are for manuals only.

* PDF • Organ Interludes (Manuals Only) • 104 Pages
—Based on Gregorian Melodies • Edited by Mr Stephen Perez.
* Amazon Softcover (Eligible for Prime) • $9.99

Full title of the publication:

M Simple Organ Interludes (Manuals Only)
M In honor of Father Énemond Massé (d. 1646)
M Including modal compositions based on plainchant melodies.
M For use in the Catholic Church.

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Dom Gregory Murray’s pieces are particularly beautiful. My parish is currently without an organist, since the person who had been serving as our organist recently entered the seminary. I asked my colleague, Jeff Ostrowski, to record a few of the Murray interludes, so readers can get an idea what they sound like. Mr. Ostrowski chose to record INTERLUDE 37—based on Sanctus VIII—as well as INTERLUDE 59.

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

About Andrea Leal

Andrea Leal is a wife and homeschooling mother of 6 children. She serves as choir director for the Traditional Latin Mass in Las Vegas.—(Read full biography).

PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”

Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Sarum’ Good Friday?

Plainsong of the Roman Rite has many variants—i.e. slight ‘variations’ or ‘alterations’ made to the ancient melodies. Variants often thrive in particular religious orders. Likewise, before Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, Gregorian Chant variants were frequently associated with individual cathedrals in England: Hereford, Lincoln, Salisbury, and so forth. In the early 20th century, the (Anglican) organist at Westminster Abbey married “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” to this beautiful variant melody from England. Those who sing Gregorian Chant on Good Friday will recognize the melody. What do you think of this pairing?

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”

Gustav Adolf Merkel (d. 1885) was a German organist, teacher, and composer. Although a Lutheran himself, he held the appointment at the (Roman Catholic) Cathedral of Dresden from 1864 until his death. You can download his Organ Postlude in E-Flat, which I like very much. He has an interesting way of marking the pedal notes. What do you think?

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026

How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”

For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.

—Jeff Ostrowski