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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

PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” for 29 June … Which Falls on a Sunday This Year!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 27, 2025

HE DEMOCRATIC nominee 49 years ago was JIMMY CARTER, who chose Walter Mondale as his vice-presidential running mate. A major theme of their campaign said the USA was more divided in 1976 than at any other point (!) in our nation’s history. They insisted upon this idea constantly. For instance, in the first national debate, Jimmy Carter said: “Our nation in the last eight years has been divided as never before.” Walter Mondale likewise said: “We’ve gone through the worst war in American history, which divided this country perhaps just as much it’s ever been divided.” [Were they unfamiliar with the American Civil War?]

(1 of 5) Regarding Guidance • I bring this up because today I will speak about the concept of “guidance” as it relates to English adaptations of the GRADUALE ROMANUM. Let’s remember that 1976 wasn’t like today. There was no World Wide Web. United States citizens were very much at the mercy of the mainstream media. Growing up, we had an encyclopedia in our basement—but that was hardly the equivalent internet access! Folks in those days sought guidance from television and newspapers. Can we blame them?

Pardon This Interruption • In a moment, I’ll make clear why I’m bringing all this up. However, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul (29 June) falls on a Sunday this year. I would like to share with you the organ accompaniment I composed for the “ENTRANCE CHANT.”

*  PDF Download • Singer’s Score (Treble Clef)
*  PDF Download • ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT (2 Pages)

Here’s the direct URL link.

(2 of 5) Regarding Guidance • Earlier, I spoke of Jimmy Carter’s 1976 campaign theme (see above). The mainstream media had an obligation to castigate Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale for pretending the United States “was more divided than at any time in its history.” No same person would make such a claim. The USA in 1976 was not more divided than the 1850s, when America fought a bloody Civil War. In the 1850s, brother fought against brother—and thousands ended up losing legs and arms to amputation (if they survived). But the media let the Carter campaign get away scot-free … and because citizens relied upon the media for guidance, he was never held accountable for those statements.

(3 of 5) Regarding Guidance • Ordinary Catholics must look to ‘experts’ for guidance on sacred music. It’s only natural that this should occur. After all, the ordinary Catholic is very busy raising his family, trying to make ends meet, and trying to save his soul—fighting daily against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Most Catholics simply don’t have time to spend hours each day researching sacred music.

(4 of 5) Regarding Guidance • In this area, I feel that many ‘experts’ have failed. On one hand, there’s no shortage of English adaptations of the GRADUALE ROMANUM. On the other hand, the quality of such adaptations runs the full gamut (if you’ll pardon the pun). To be blunt, some adaptations are so clumsy, boring, and inartistic that only a lunatic would program them at Mass. I’ve dedicated my life to promoting plainsong and polyphony. It goes without saying that I’m sympathetic to people who want to introduce dignified music at the sacred liturgy. I just feel that we “hurt the cause” when we introduce insipid adaptations. Furthermore, the congregation is ‘instinctively’ repulsed and bored by such inartistic music … and can we blame them?

(5 of 5) Regarding Guidance • The adaptation above—for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul on 29 June—in my view, absolutely catches the ‘spirit’ of the authentic version. For that reason, I spent considerable time providing a harmonization. Full disclosure: I’m eminently familiar with that INTROIT (Nunc scio vere). For 30 years, I’ve known it like the back of my hand. That’s why I feel comfortable saying the adaptation is superb. Here’s a captivating recording of the authentic version:

*  Mp3 Download • Schola Cantorum Recording (1990s)
—Recorded by the Seminary of Wigratzbad (Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter)

Conclusion • It would be imbecilic to expect the average Catholic to devote hours each day to studying sacred music. Experts in sacred music have an obligation, therefore, to “separate the wheat from the chaff” when it comes to vernacular plainsong adaptations. Unfortunately, good intentions aren’t sufficient. I really believe that introducing vapid, forgettable, inartistic adaptations (which seem to have been generated by artificial intelligence) hurts the very cause in which we believe so fervently.

I try to include only the finest adaptations at the feasts website. Some by Father Arbogast are quite clever, as well as the O’Fallon Propers (which were basically created by Dom Ermin Vitry, OSB).

Addendum • For the record, there will always be people who object to singing the Proprium Missae in the vernacular. The rubrics of the 1970 Missal explicitly allow this, many bishops have given IMPRIMATUR to such musical collections, and the USCCB secretariat of Divine Worship confirmed this practice (in writing) on 12 December 2013. Nevertheless, some still insist this practice is “illicit”—and not even six letters from the pope himself would change their mind. This is just another one of those curious situations we must learn to live with.

Speaking of bizarre opinions, some who prepare ceremonies for the 1962 Missale Romanum will spend hours arguing about rubrical minutiae, citing Monsignor Pio Martinucci, Father Louis Stercky, Father Adrian Fortescue, Father John O’Connell, Father Innocent Wapelhorst, and so forth. Yet these same folks couldn’t care less about 1962 legislation vis-à-vis the rhythm of Gregorian Chant. When Pope Pius X promulgated the EDITIO VATICANA, he was specific and explicit about what rhythmic system was to be followed—and that legislation was upheld and reinforced by the Vatican as late as 1958. I’ll go to my grave without understanding why such folks are so conscientious and rigid regarding every rubric, yet downright sloppy when it comes to the important matter of the official edition’s rhythm (which effects every phrase of every piece).

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Cardinal Martinelli Letter of 1910, Dom Ermin Vitry, Father Innocent Wapelhorst, Father John O'Connell, Father Louis Stercky, Jimmy Carter 1976, Missale Vetustum, Monsignor Pio Martinucci, Rev Fr Adrian Fortescue Liturgy, Sebastian Cardinal Martinelli, Walter Mondale 1976 Last Updated: May 27, 2025

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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

    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 26 October 2025, which is the 30th 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 top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Little Encouragement?
    In the Gospel, our Savior tells about 10 lepers who were healed. Only one went back to give thanks. Precious few express gratitude, yet many have endless energy to complain. For that reason, I deeply appreciate receiving messages like the following, which arrived a few days ago (about the parish where I direct in Michigan): “Last Sunday, a couple I knew from Grand Rapids was at Mass at 10:00 a.m. I got a chance to talk to them after Mass. I wanted to let you know what they said about the choir. They were absolutely floored by our sound!!!!! They both said they could continuously listen to our choir and the beauty of it. They asked me: “Do you always sound like that?” And they were also very surprised at how packed the church was. They said it was nice for them to be in such a full church. I just thought you would be interested to know their thoughts about our choir.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

Random Quote

“Older priests, therefore, should receive younger priests as true brothers and help them in their first undertakings and priestly duties. The older ones should likewise endeavor to understand the mentality of younger priests, even though it be different from their own, and follow their projects with good will.”

— Pope Saint Paul VI (7 dec 1965)

Recent Posts

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  • Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
  • “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
  • Little Encouragement?

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