Views from the Choir Loft

Corrinne May Conducts At “Totus Tuus”

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 27, 2024

AST FRIDAY, at the Marian Night of Music concert, the Totus Tuus Schola Cantorum led by Singaporean ‘platinum’ artist Corrinne May chanted a rich repertoire of Gregorian Chant and sacred polyphony dedicated to our Lord, Blessed Mother, and Saint Joseph. The following choral works were sung: If Ye Love Me (Tallis); Ave Maria (Palestrina); Te Joseph Celebrent (Plainchant); Magnificat (Ciro Grassi); O Magnum Mysterium (Father Victoria); Agnus Dei (Kevin Allen); Adoro Te Devote (Charlotte Lansberg); Anima Christi & Totus Tuus (Marco Frisina); and the Pater Noster (Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel).

Corrinne May writes:

There is a mystery of truth communicated by beauty which reflects the Divine. The late Alice von Hildebrand says, “Beauty is a reflection of God and a reflection of His own infinite beauty.” As Saint Augustine famously remarks, “Cantare amantis est”—singing belongs to the one who loves. When man comes into contact with God, mere speech is insufficient. Sacred Music in all its beauty & tradition is meant to articulate the very truth in our hearts to Almighty God. Please pray for me and the choir. May Our Lady be better known and loved.

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

“What Martin Luther Said…”

My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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