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Corpus Christi Watershed

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

Archives for August 2025

Veronica Brandt · August 31, 2025

Online Breviary With Chant

Breviarium Gregorianum takes all the work out of assembling the music for singing the Divine Office.

Guest Author · August 30, 2025

Installment #6 • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”

“If we had known what the prayers really said, we would not have wanted to pray them any longer.” —Paul Inwood

Jeff Ostrowski · August 29, 2025

Cardinal Ranjith on “Active Participation”

He was considered “papabile” in the last conclave.

Guest Author · August 28, 2025

Installment #5 • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”

Executive Director (emeritus) of ICEL weighs in on our series.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 27, 2025

“Music List” • 22nd in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Readers have expressed interest in examining the “music list” I prepared for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 26, 2025

Brave Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording

In the case of one gentleman, this was only the 2nd time in his life he’s sung in a choir!

Mark Haas · August 26, 2025

“Cracker Barrel & Catholicism” • Logos and Lessons

“A restaurant’s niche—just like a Church’s patrimony—draws people in not by blending with the generic, but by standing apart.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 25, 2025

“Reform of the Reform” officially embraced by USCCB

As to whether this matters … who can say?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 24, 2025

“The Worm That Dieth Not”

My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin…

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 22, 2025

Father Chris Smith Celebrates 20 Years as a Priest

We believe our readers will recognize the polyphonic Mass setting chosen.

Guest Author · August 21, 2025

“Practical Solutions to Impractical Problems” • Lerner’s Philosophy of Parish Music

Simple chants (sung well) save souls.

Veronica Brandt · August 20, 2025

Gregorian Chant Academy Free Workshop

A polished, relaxed introduction to Gregorian chant from a dad trained at Norcia.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · August 20, 2025

Cardinal Heenan Speaks About Monsignor Knox

“He was perhaps the greatest figure in the Church of the twentieth century.” —Cardinal Heenan, Archbishop of Westminster

Mark Haas · August 19, 2025

An Arranger’s Walkthrough of “King’s Weston” (PDF & MP3 Downloads)

“There is a sacred calling for those of us who compose and arrange music for the Church.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 18, 2025

Now Online! • “Rare Latin + English Missal” (Burns and Oates, 1961) — 1,737 pages

One of the rarest (and most valuable) treasures our organization has ever made available.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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

Quick Thoughts

    “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

Random Quote

It is clear the Church is facing a grave crisis. Under the name of “the new Church” and “the post-conciliar Church,” a different Church from that of Jesus Christ is now trying to establish itself: an anthropocentric society threatened with imminent apostasy which is allowing itself to be swept along in a movement of general abdication under the pretext of renewal, ecumenicism, or adaptation.

— Cardinal Henri de Lubac (29 August 1967)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”
  • ‘Sarum’ Good Friday?
  • Gregorian Chant • The “Correct” Way of Singing ?
  • PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”
  • Fulton J. Sheen • “24-Hour Catechism”

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