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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

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 · 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.”

Aurelio Porfiri · July 10, 2014

Why Did Nobody Inform Me That Latin Was Abolished?

“The request freaked the Deacon out, and, through sweat, he answered that the Council had abolished Latin.”

Aurelio Porfiri · July 8, 2014

Remembering Cardinal Virgilio Noè

If you think that he did not care, as many prelates, about who and what was playing, you would be “hugely wrong.”

Aurelio Porfiri · July 1, 2014

A Name To Remember

If you don’t know who Divo Barsotti is, his discovery will be for you like “exploring a continent for the first time.”

Aurelio Porfiri · June 30, 2014

Appropriate

I am sure 100% of you will agree that: “a rock band is not going to entertain fans at the sound of Gregorian chant.”

Aurelio Porfiri · June 25, 2014

The Downside Of Dialogue

We have a saying in Italy: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
    Choirs love to sing the resplendent tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1929, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. Their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1929 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. As always, the Germans added an organ INTRODUCTION. For the record, I posted a different harmonization a few months ago which was downloaded more than 2,000 times.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”
    Various shell corporations (in an effort to make money selling Sacred Scripture) have tinkered with the LECTIONARY texts in a way that’s shameful. It’s no wonder Catholics in the pews know so few Bible passages by heart. Without authorization, these shell corporations pervert the official texts. Consider the Responsorial Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If you download this PDF comparison chart you’ll notice each country randomly omits certain sections. Such tinkering has gone on for 60+ years—and it’s reprehensible.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Monsignor Klaus Gamber Speaks!
    An interesting quotation from the eminent liturgist, Monsignor Klaus Gamber (d. 1989): “According to canon law, a person’s affiliation with a particular liturgical rite is determined by that person’s rite of baptism. Given that the liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI created a de facto new rite, one could assert that those among the faithful who were baptized according to the traditional Roman rite have the right to continue following that rite; just as priests who were ordained according to the traditional Ordo have the right to exercise the very rite that they were ordained to celebrate.”
    —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 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

“The plan to definitively abolish the traditional Tridentine Mass … if it is true, seems to me to be an insult to the history of the Church and to Sacred Tradition, a diabolical project that seeks to break with the Church of Christ, the apostles, and the saints.”

— The Vatican’s chief liturgist (appointed by Pope Francis) from 2014-2021

Recent Posts

  • Children’s Repertoire • Mueller’s Recommendations
  • PDF Download • “Marian Antiphon Booklet” (4 pages) + Five Rhythmic Considerations
  • False Accusations
  • (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
  • PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”

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