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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

Corpus Christi Watershed

Corpus Christi Watershed · October 2, 2025

“Fulfilled!” • Bride’s Musical Request

Sophia Institute Press has been generous in this regard.

Corpus Christi Watershed · September 28, 2025

“Allow Us to protect your interests, even against your own will.” —Pope Saint Paul VI

“A choir which eliminates Gregorian Chant will be like a snuffed candle, which no more attracts the eyes and minds of men.”

Corpus Christi Watershed · September 27, 2025

Church Facelift • Saint Andrew’s (Tipton, Missouri)

You won’t believe this transformation!

Corpus Christi Watershed · September 8, 2025

“The Injustice of Traditionis Custodes” • (Private Meetings at the Vatican)

“If you think the subject of ‘Traditionis Custodes’ was absent during my visits to the Vatican, you are mistaken…” —Sławomir Cenckiewicz

Corpus Christi Watershed · September 7, 2025

Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”

Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Saint John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible.

Corpus Christi Watershed · September 6, 2025

Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?

This myth is quite pervasive.

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 22, 2025

Father Chris Smith Celebrates 20 Years as a Priest

We believe our readers will recognize the polyphonic Mass setting chosen.

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 14, 2025

Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)

The Schwann edition is on 4 lines, the version by Dr. Weinmann is on 5.

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 9, 2025

“We Laughed It Off” • Archbishop of Portland on the Elimination of Latin from the Sacred Liturgy

“It seemed so far beyond the realm of the possible as to be ridiculous. So we laughed it off.” — Most Rev. Robert J. Dwyer (d. 1976)

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 10, 2025

The Tallis Scholars

This year, Sacred Music Symposium 2025 took part in “Palestrina500” at Sacred Heart in Grand Rapids.

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 8, 2025

Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character.” —Pope Saint Paul VI

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 8, 2025

August 2025 • “Colorado Sacred Music Conference”

Registration is now open!

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 4, 2025

Boston Auxiliary Bishop: “In offering the Traditional Mass for the first time, after removing the vestments, I knelt in the back pew and wept.”

As of 4 July 2025, Bishop Reed’s post on Twitter had received 188,800 views.

Corpus Christi Watershed · June 18, 2025

Pope Leo XIV pays tribute to Palestrina

“Palestrina500” at the Vatican, with Pope Leo XIV.

Corpus Christi Watershed · June 13, 2025

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

This extremely rare hymnal was published in 1959.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Kids’ Choir Sings Thomas Aquinas
    Last Sunday, a children’s choir I’m teaching sang with us for the very first time at Sunday Mass. Females from our main choir sang along with them. If you’re curious to hear how they sounded, you can listen to a ‘live’ recording. That’s an English version of TANTUM ERGO by Saint Thomas Aquinas. That haunting melody is called GAUFESTRE and was employed for this 2-Voice Arrangement of a special hymn for 9 November (“Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome”) which replaces a Sunday this year.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Prex • Particularly Powerful
    The Third Edition of the SAINT EDMUND CAMPION MISSAL contains a Latin-English translation for the ‘old’ Holy Week published by Monsignor Ronald Knox in 1950. His version is utterly splendid, and it’s astonishing it was totally forgotten for 70+ years. I find his translation of a prayer from Palm Sunday (Deus qui dispérsa cóngregas) particularly powerful: “O God, who dost mend what is shattered, and what thou hast mended, ever dost preserve, thou didst bless the chance comers who met Jesus with branches in their hands. Bless these branches too, of palm or olive, which we take up obediently in honour of thy name; rest they where they will, let them carry thy blessing to all who dwell there. All harm thence banish, and let thy power defend us, in proof that thy Son, Jesus Christ, has redeemed us…”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of September (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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 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
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Side-By-Side Comparison”
    Pope Urban VIII modified almost all the Church’s ancient hymns in 1632AD. The team responsible for creating the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal spent years comparing the different versions of each hymn: “Urbanite” vs. “pre-Urbanite.” When it comes to the special hymn for the upcoming feast (9 November)—URBS BEATA JERUSALEM—Dr. Adrian Fortescue pointed out that “the people who changed it in the 17th century did not even keep its metre; so the later version cannot be sung to the old, exceedingly beautiful tune.” Monsignor Hugh Thomas Henry (d. 1946), a professor of Gregorian Chant at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook, Philadelphia), wrote: “Of this hymn in particular some think that, whereas it did not suffer as much as some others, yet it lost much of its beauty in the revision; others declare that it was admirably transformed without unduly modifying the sense.” You can use this side-by-side comparison chart to compare both versions. When it comes to its meaning, there’s little significant difference between the two versions: e.g. “name of Christ” vs. “love of Christ.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“It introduces us to a still and serious world, deserted and rigid, without colour, without light, without motion; it does not gladden, does not distract; yet we cannot break away from it.”

— ‘Schweitzer on the THEME from Bach’s “Art of Fugue”’

Recent Posts

  • Kids’ Choir Sings Thomas Aquinas
  • “Fulfilled!” • Bride’s Musical Request
  • Incredible Message of Hope from Michael Olbash
  • Prex • Particularly Powerful
  • My choir is devoid of this generation (And it’s a healthy sign)

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