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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 • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) for your Children’s Choir

Jeff Ostrowski · October 14, 2025

F YOU SCROLL towards the bottom of this article, I provide a charming liturgical ROUND (“canon”) which I’m currently teaching to my children’s choir. We’ve been featuring some articles by colleagues—such the one by Dr. Alfred Calabrese and the one by Andrea Leal—which provide excellent repertoire for children’s choirs. Horowitz told Harold C. Schonberg: “If you grow up playing only Kalkbrenner, Henselt, and Czerny etudes, you will never become a pianist. Never! Impossible. You must know the great music from the beginning, be saturated with it.” But the tricky part is finding excellent repertoire for children. I mean repertoire that’s truly artistic, yet still within their reach. Repertoire that—when performed by your children’s choir—sounds impressive, dignified, and delightful.

(1 of 3) First Attempt • A few weeks ago, our children’s choir sang at Mass for the first time. They were supported by the females in our ‘normal’ parish choir. Here’s how the ENTRANCE CHANT (source) came out:

Here’s the direct URL link.

(2 of 3) First Attempt • The children’s choir also joined in singing GAUFESTRE, which they have been learning in preparation for the feast on 9 November (which replaces a Sunday). On that day, we will sing the Hymn by Father Thomas à Kempis arranged for 2 voices. Here is how GAUFESTRE sounded ‘live’ with the kids:

To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Round in honor of Saint Bryant • If you’re directing a children’s choir, you might want to consider using this LITURGICAL ROUND in honor of Saint Alexander Bryant (d. 1581). Saint Bryant was a Jesuit martyr who was tortured and put to death by Anglicans in 1581AD.

*  PDF • LITURGICAL ROUND + Kyrie VI

The ROUND is based on a work by Max Exner. In this edition, it’s been married to “Kyrie Rex Genitor” (Editio Vaticana) so that it works in the Ordinary Form as a choral extension.

On page 2, you’ll notice I created a harmonization for the ROUND. That is only to be used when teaching the ROUND to the children. I also provided a harmonization of the KYRIE from Mass VI (“Rex Genitor”) to facilitate participation by the congregation. For the record, that ROUND’s melody reminds me of a tune in the Brébeuf Hymnal called “Wareham.”

(3 of 3) First Attempt • I mentioned that my children’s choir recently sang at Mass for the very first time. One piece they sang was “Urbs Jerusalem Beata” as printed in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal. I like hearing the choir break into SATB harmonies at the refrain:

To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

That was the first time
many of these children had
ever sung in SATB harmony!

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: Choral Extensions, Easy Polyphony For Amateurs, free PDF canon beginning choir, free PDF liturgical round Last Updated: October 14, 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

    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th 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 dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on which source text is chosen and what each translator wants to emphasize. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —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 • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) for your Children’s Choir
  • Latin Liturgy Association
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  • Fulton J. Sheen Played The Pipe Organ!
  • “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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