Reprehensible Rhymes • (1955 Hymnal)

Jeff Ostrowski · November 10, 2026

It really does seem as though this gentleman was only considered an ‘expert’ in Roman Catholic hymnody when compared to others…

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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).

Reprehensible Rhymes • (1955 Hymnal)

Joseph Vincent Higginson (d. 1994) was considered an expert on Roman Catholic hymnody. In 1955, he released his masterpiece: the “MEDIATOR DEI HYMNAL: For Unison Choirs and Congregations” (with an Imprimatur dated 22 August 1955). If you click on this image you will see rhymes that are reprehensible and ghastly. In the past, I have had occasion to document unfortunate and puzzling aspects of this Higginson’s tome, such as the fact that almost every hymn is truncated to just 2-3 verses. [By the time members of the congregation turns to the right page, the hymn will be over!] It is not my intention to relitigate deficiencies in the MEDIATOR DEI HYMNAL. I would only point out that any English-speaking poet worth his salt would cut off his right arm before using same rhyme twice.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Singers’ Booklet”

The Communion antiphon this week is the powerful “Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids.”

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—Jeff Ostrowski

Feast of All Saints (Nov. 1st)

The formatting of this booklet is ‘messy’—but it’s only ever seen by the singers (not the congregation).

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—Jeff Ostrowski

Preface of Saint Joseph (added by the pope)

You can see the “Præfatio de Sancto Joseph” inserted directly into the priest’s missal.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

“Predictable Rhymes?” • A Follow Up

We received considerable correspondence regarding my article, Two Ways to Defile a Hymn. More specifically, what really raised certain people’s hackles was its follow-up article dealing with the keyboard accompaniment for the CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL. But to quote Eliza Doolittle: “Have I said anything I oughtn’t?” Please examine this PDF file and see whether you agree. Were the editors of the BRÉBEUF HYMNAL incorrect to insist upon sophisticated and clever rhymes, rather than mind-numbingly predictable rhymes?

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Ould’ But Not Good

Dom Samuel Gregory Ould (note the spelling) was a Benedictine monk at FORT AUGUSTUS ABBEY in Scotland. As musician, organist, and composer, Dom Ould was highly regarded. Moreover, he was considered an authority on Gregorian Chant. But not everything found in an old book—or, in this case, an “Ould” book—is necessarily praiseworthy. Consider this page from Dom Ould’s hymnal. Do you see the rhymes? They offend severely by ABR (“Abuse By Reuse”) and are utterly predictable. In my recent article—Two Ways to Defile a Hymn—I addressed this topic.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Reprehensible Rhymes • (1955 Hymnal)

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