Views from the Choir Loft

Corpus Christi Watershed

Corpus Christi Watershed · February 4, 2013

Christmas at Christ the King (late!)

This blog seemed to good to pass up, even though it is no longer Christmastide . . .

Corpus Christi Watershed · January 21, 2013

Homiletic & Pastoral Review: Article by Fr. Friel

As I prayed these prayers from the new missal for the first time on January 3, 2012, I was struck nearly dumb . . .

Corpus Christi Watershed · January 15, 2013

John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music

The Newsletter for January 2013 and questionnaire.

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 13, 2012

Chant, Polyphony, and the New Evangelization.

VIDEO: Pope Benedict tells a choir group on pilgrimage in Rome that sacred music can be an effective means of the new evangelization.

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 13, 2012

New Missal & Hymnal for the Latin Mass

To help your congregation follow the Extraordinary Form, our book includes more than 100 full color photographs.

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 15, 2011

Achille P. Bragers Kyriale (HIGH VOICE)

The famous “Bragers Kyriale” contains organ accompaniments for all the Gregorian Ordinaries of the Mass.

Corpus Christi Watershed · October 12, 2011

Five New Translation Videos • “Glory To God”

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 14, 2005

Choir of Sainte Marie • “THE GREAT WEEK”

You are also responsible for learning the PALESTRINA ALLELUIA: 26561 • “Alleluia for SATB” • PDF Score (Singer) EQUAL VOICES : YouTube SOPRANO : YouTube ALTO : YouTube TENOR : YouTube BASS : YouTube Music list: Palm Sunday Music list: Holy Thursday Music List: Good Friday Music List: Easter Sunday Reminder: the “feasts […]

Luis Martínez Must Go!

Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

—Jeff Ostrowski

Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!

A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)

I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed