• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
  • Catholic Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Aurelio Porfiri

Renowned as composer, conductor, theorist, author, pedagogue, and organist, Aurelio Porfiri has served the Church on multiple continents at the highest levels. Born and raised in Italy, he currently serves as Director of Choral Activities and Composer in Residence for Santa Rosa de Lima School (Macao, China). Read more.

Aurelio Porfiri · October 13, 2014

VIDEO • A New Mass For A New Era

“Our Archconfraternity is truly grateful to Maestro Aurelio Porfiri for the gift of this marvelous Mass which he has composed.” —Domenico Rotella

Aurelio Porfiri · October 11, 2014

VIDEO • I Am An Elitist

These elite are people who—by means of tireless effort—try to create good art for the benefit of everyone.

Aurelio Porfiri · October 10, 2014

Aurelio Porfiri: Excerpt from “Corpus Domini” Oratorio

Are modern church musicians still composing oratorios? Yes!

Aurelio Porfiri · October 9, 2014

VIDEO • Am I A Disease?

“Reduced to the laical state” vs. “dismissal from the clerical state.”

Aurelio Porfiri · September 23, 2014

Cardinal Lercaro: A Key Player In Liturgical Reform

“This booklet made quite a splash. Even Paul VI had to publicly defend Cardinal Lercaro.” — Aurelio Porfiri

Aurelio Porfiri · September 15, 2014

Unchangeable Things

“What stood out to me was the attention that Bishop Salvado gave to music…”

Aurelio Porfiri · September 9, 2014

A Good Reading

“The thoughts of Fr. Barsotti are not devotional or pious, but essential.” — Aurelio Porfiri.

Aurelio Porfiri · September 2, 2014

When Disobedience Is Not Only Good, But Necessary!

“The majesty of divine worship is not only disapproved by evil men, but defiled and held up to ridicule.” — Pope Gregory XVI

Aurelio Porfiri · August 26, 2014

Tu Es Petrus

A common mistake I find in Catholic literature is the belief that if you defend Pope Francis it means you are against Pope emeritus Benedict XVI, and vice versa.

Aurelio Porfiri · August 19, 2014

Don’t Add Me, Please

If someone tells you “Vatican II wants such-and-such,” ask him where this was said.

Aurelio Porfiri · August 13, 2014

The Plague

When I speak with Pope Francis, will I ask him to care about sacred music? No. Abuses of the liturgy? No, I will ask him about the root of these problems.

Aurelio Porfiri · August 5, 2014

The Semiologist And The Unbeliever

Once upon a time there was a musician who thought he knew how Gregorian chant should be performed, and was very suspicious of the “semiologists.”

Aurelio Porfiri · August 4, 2014

Modernity Impact

For me tradition is not going to the past, but going to the origins.

Aurelio Porfiri · July 30, 2014

Felix Culpa

Life is not a piece of cake. And the Mass is not a Sunday recreational moment. We need to feel the burning of being close to God.

Aurelio Porfiri · July 29, 2014

Missionaries

Maybe today we need missionaries of a different kind, ready to announce the beauty of our faith and tradition with an understanding of the new needs of a changing world.

Aurelio Porfiri · July 28, 2014

Facebook, Scammers, and the Economy of Words

No, dear girls, I do not want to know more about you, but maybe it would be good for you to know something more about me.

Aurelio Porfiri · July 22, 2014

Basic Steps To Improve Music At Your Parish — Part 7

Guided by this one principle, every parish: “will become a model in its own way, and the liturgical reform, in its essence and demands, will be happily fulfilled.” — Aurelio Porfiri

Aurelio Porfiri · July 17, 2014

Fr. Enrico Zoffoli and the Passion of the Lord

“And so, for Jesus – and for us – the Passion is everything, the Passion decides everything.” — Fr. Zoffoli

Aurelio Porfiri · July 16, 2014

Confession 2.0

“You know I will never betray you, lol.” How many Hail Marys would this kind of sin deserve?

Aurelio Porfiri · July 15, 2014

I Am Not A Contemporary

Job searching is tough, you say? Try searching as a Church musician who is not “contemporary.”

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

6 January 2021 • Anglicans on Plainsong

A book published by Anglicans in 1965 has this to say about Abbat Pothier’s Editio Vaticana, the musical edition reproduced by books such as the LIBER USUALIS (Solesmes Abbey): “No performing edition of the music of the Eucharistic Psalmody can afford to ignore the evidence of the current official edition of the Latin Graduale, which is no mere reproduction of a local or partial tradition, but a CENTO resulting from an extended study and comparison of a host of manuscripts gathered from many places. Thus the musical text of the Graduale possesses a measure of authority which cannot lightly be disregarded.” They are absolutely correct.

—Jeff Ostrowski
2 January 2021 • Temptation

When I see idiotic statements made on the internet, I go nuts. When I see heretics promoted by people who should know better, I get angry. Learning to ignore such items is difficult—very difficult. I try to remember the words of Fr. Valentine Young: “Do what God places in front of you each day.” When I am honest, I don’t believe God wants me to dwell on errors and idiocy; there’s nothing I can do about that. During 2021, I will strive to do a better job following the advice of Fr. Valentine.

—Jeff Ostrowski
31 December 2020 • “COMITES CHRISTI”

The feasts for Saint Stephen Proto-Martyr (26 December), Saint John the Evangelist The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved (27 December), and the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28 December) seem untouched by any liturgical reforms. These are very powerful feasts—I believe they once possessed octaves—and I believe they could sometimes “overpower” a Sunday feast. The rules for octaves in the olden days are extremely complex. These feasts are sometimes referred to as a single entity as: Comites Christi (“Companions of Christ”). This is just a guess, but there seems to be a triple significance: STEPHEN martyred after Christ lived, JOHN was a martyr who knew Christ personally, and the HOLY INNOCENTS were martyred before Christ’s birth.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to higher things.”

— Vatican II Council

Recent Posts

  • “Homily for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
  • Lies, Lies, Lies
  • What Color Is B-Flat? Life as a Musician with Synesthesia
  • Catholic Choirmasters • Never Fall For This!
  • 6 January 2021 • Anglicans on Plainsong

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

Copyright © 2021 Corpus Christi Watershed · Charles Garnier on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.