Views from the Choir Loft

Rehearsal Videos • “Sanctus & Hosanna” (Guerrero)

Jeff Ostrowski · May 23, 2017

KNOW A SECRET. Would you like to hear? Once upon a time, Roman Catholic composers were trained from birth in a special art of musical composition. This situation produced masters whose liturgical works contain unthinkable beauty, waiting for all to enjoy. They would combine plainsong themes in supremely brilliant ways, and I have tried to indicate such places by means of red ink: ¹

* * PDF • SANCTUS & HOSANNA (“Missa Iste Sanctus”)

For years, I hoped other Catholic websites would promote the gorgeous compositions by such giants as Palestrina, Verdelot, Victoria, Guerrero, Lassus, Marenzio, and others. However, very few do—although they exert tremendous energy complaining about “bad liturgy.” Therefore, I began making rehearsal videos in which I sing all the vocal parts (even the soprano notes!) to help this music live again in our churches:

REHEARSAL VIDEOS for each individual voice await you at #5454.

Many people (inexplicably) do not visit LALEMANT POLYPHONIC, where individual voice parts are located. That’s a huge mistake, because the whole point of these tracks is the individual voice tracks—and we’ve seen marvelous results from their use here in Los Angeles. By the way, those who attend Sacred Music Symposium 2017 will learn how to create these recordings.

Could anyone listen to the Tenor Rehearsal Video (at the “Hosanna” section) and not be overwhelmed by the majestic dignity and holiness of these melodies?

The Benedictus is forthcoming.

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 The red ink refers to the motet which serves as the basis for this parody Mass.

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

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).

Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers

In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“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