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Corpus Christi Watershed

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

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Views from the Choir Loft

Christopher Mueller • Article Archive

Christopher Mueller is a church musician, conductor, and composer. He aims to write beautiful music out of gratitude to God, the Author of all beauty.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Christopher Mueller · October 6, 2020

(Installment #10) “Catholic Hymnals” • Chris Mueller

Father Rutler makes five crucial points.

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Christopher Mueller · March 30, 2020

Repeating Repertoire? • Christopher Mueller

I’m sure I’m not the only one to feel this way: certain celebrations don’t feel right without “that piece.”

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Christopher Mueller · July 25, 2017

What really happened at the Convocation of Catholic Leaders

Beautiful liturgical music happened—in a hotel ballroom, no less!

Christopher Mueller · April 12, 2016

World Youth Day with polyphony and chant!

Help us bring polyphony and chant to World Youth Day!

Christopher Mueller · February 29, 2016

The Domestic Church and the domestic schola

The family that sings together prays together.

Christopher Mueller · January 6, 2016

On Catholic Art

It’s time to renovate and reoccupy our own tradition!

Christopher Mueller · October 12, 2015

Rediscovering “Musicam Sacram”

I encountered anew this wonderfully clear and concise document about music in the liturgy.

Christopher Mueller · September 21, 2015

A Striking Approach To Performing Gregorian Chant

A commenter had posted, “Their metrical chant is a revelation!” That piqued my curiosity.

Christopher Mueller · September 7, 2015

Liturgy And Diversity

“His answer was surprising to me, and I thought it both prudential and catholic.” —Chris Mueller

Christopher Mueller · January 3, 2013

Biography • Christopher Mueller

Christopher is a church musician, conductor, and composer…

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Quick Thoughts

23 May 2022 • FEEDBACK

From a reader: “I wasn’t looking for it. But, I stumbled across your hand-dandy arrangement of Pachelbel’s Canon. Jeff, this is the greatest thing since sliced bread! I had to play a wedding on Saturday. The bride requested the Canon. There were 11 bridesmaids! The organ loft is a football field away from the communion rail. It’s so difficult to play and keep checking the mirror. Your arrangement is absolutely genius. One can skip and choose which variations to use. The chord names are handy so that when my eyes are off the music, I always know where I am at. A thousand times thank you for sharing this arrangement!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Had the Church never spoken on this matter, it would still be repugnant to our Catholic people’s sense of what is fit and proper in the holiest of places, that a priest should have to struggle through the prayers of the Holy Mass, because of such tunes as “Alice, where art thou?” the “Vacant Chair,” and others of more vulgar title, which, through the carelessness or bad judgment of organists, sometimes find their way into our choirs.

— Preface to a Roman Catholic Hymnal (1896)

Recent Posts

  • CCWatershed Is In Financial Trouble!
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  • Review • A Catholic Book of Hymns
  • 23 May 2022 • FEEDBACK
  • PDF Download • “A Canon Choirs Love!”

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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.

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