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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 · March 14, 2025

Reader Feedback • “Reform of the Reform”

“Throughout those 40+ years, I designed the music liturgy according to my sense of entertainment, failing to realise what it was supposed to be until much later.” —Chad H.

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 12, 2025

“I Hate, Loathe, and Utterly Despise the Trivial Details of Ceremonies.” —Father Adrian Fortescue

“I want never to hear another word about ceremonies for as long as I live. I would rather discuss the symptoms of cancer.” —Dr. Fortescue

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 11, 2025

Our Own Richard J. Clark Conducts 250 Children in Chant & Polyphony!

Reclaiming Gregorian Chant for children at the New England “Pueri Cantores” choral festival & Mass.

Corpus Christi Watershed · February 25, 2025

Famous Italian Actor Regrets Aborting Son

“It was the mistake of my life. When I was very young, I had the chance to become a father, but I had my son aborted. Now, I’ve become very strongly against abortion.” —Andrea Roncato

Corpus Christi Watershed · February 17, 2025

“The Sad State of Liturgical Music in the Catholic Church” • Thomas G. McFaul (2002)

“Nothing in pop music ever sounded quite as loathsome as what is played and sung in the church today.” —Thomas G. McFaul

Corpus Christi Watershed · February 10, 2025

Monsignor Ronald Knox—His Actual Voice!—Speaks of Saint John Henry Newman (1948)

It is beyond fascinating to hear his actual voice.

Corpus Christi Watershed · February 7, 2025

“Win or Lose, a Fight Worth Fighting!” • (Email Received from a Priest)

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Jeffrey Tucker, who prevented a non-Christian company from securing a monopoly on the (mandatory) English psalm translation!

Corpus Christi Watershed · February 5, 2025

Abbey Psalms & Canticles • Copyright?

Confusion, Controversy, and Contradiction rules the day.

Corpus Christi Watershed · February 4, 2025

Antiphons Don’t Match?

The short answer is: the “Adalbert Propers” were never intended to be sung.

Corpus Christi Watershed · February 3, 2025

“Jeff, Your Assertions Are False and Misleading”

“This is a false assertion: one I’ve never heard, read about, or heard organ builders discuss.” —Kyle H.

Corpus Christi Watershed · January 30, 2025

Reader Feedback • Re: “Simplified” Music (Part 2)

“I haven’t been doing parish music that long—only about 3 years at this point.” —Celeste M.

Corpus Christi Watershed · January 30, 2025

“Entrance Chant” (Feast of the Presentation, 2 Febr.) • Sung by Three Young Women

This ‘live’ video shows three young women singing…

Corpus Christi Watershed · January 27, 2025

Photograph • Mass at Dachau Concentration Camp

Is that a tiny pipe organ?

Corpus Christi Watershed · January 24, 2025

Reader Feedback • Re: “Simplified” Organ Music

I’ve lived through various pendulum swings: the “Glory and Praise” phase; the “hymn sandwich” phase; and the “baroque tracker organ” phase.

Corpus Christi Watershed · January 23, 2025

“How To Prepare A Talk” • Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

A television broadcast from the 1960s.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
    In 2003, I copied a book by Félix Bélédin (d. 1895), who was titular organist—from 1841 to 1874—at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Lyon (France). In 2008, we scanned and uploaded the book to the Lalande Online Library. Nobody knows for sure when the book was published; some believe it first appeared in the 1840s. In any event, one who examines this excerpt, showing GLORIA IX might wonder why it says the organ answers in plainsong. However, the front of the book explains, telling the organist explicitly when to “respond in plainchant.” This is something called organ alternatim. Believe it or not, the pipe organ would take turns with the choir, playing certain texts instrumentally instead of having them sung. I’m not very well-versed in this—pardon the pun—but if memory serves, ORGAN ALTERNATIM was frowned upon by the time of Pope Saint Pius X. Nevertheless, French organists kept doing it, even after it was explicitly condemned as an abuse.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Traditionally, this Sunday was called ‘Passion’ Sunday. Starting in 1956, certain church leaders attempted rename both ‘Passion’ Sunday and ‘Palm’ Sunday—but it didn’t work. For example, Monsignor Frederick McManus tried to get people to call PALM SUNDAY “Second Passion Sunday”—but the faithful rejected that. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“One must pray to God not only with theologically precise formulas, but also in a beautiful and dignified way. The Christian community must make an examination of conscience so that the beauty of music and song will return increasingly to the liturgy.”

— Pope Saint John Paul II (26 February 2003)

Recent Posts

  • Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
  • “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
  • “Versions of the Psalter” • Jeff Interviews Top Biblical Scholar: Dr. Mark Giszczak
  • PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
  • Summer 2026 • “Gregorian Chant Course” at Aquinas College (Nashville, TN)

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