Views from the Choir Loft

Father Friel • Article Archive

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.—(Read full biography).

Fr. David Friel · May 28, 2017

The Sequences as Popular Works of Liturgical Creativity

A new article on the Sequences of the Roman Rite in the “Adoremus Bulletin”

Fr. David Friel · May 21, 2017

Antiphon Journal Expands Its Archives

Recent issues now available for preview through Project MUSE.

Fr. David Friel · May 14, 2017

Podcast on Sacred Music

An interview with the blog, “Seminarian Casual”

Fr. David Friel · May 7, 2017

Fota X Conference (and other Summer Opportunities)

Summer 2017 looks to be a blockbuster period for sacred music activity.

Fr. David Friel · April 30, 2017

Masterful “Salve Regina” by 17th-Century Portuguese Composer

This is the sort of setting that could only have derived from faith and grown out of the experience of praying these words repeatedly and fervently.

Fr. David Friel · April 16, 2017

Introducing the Wethersfield Institute Chant Workshop

A new chant workshop in upstate New York in June 2017.

Fr. David Friel · April 9, 2017

Square Note App

Bring your “Graduale Digitalum” wherever you go.

Fr. David Friel · April 2, 2017

Two Articles Worth Reading

On “Liturgiam authenticam” and the Crisis in Art

Fr. David Friel · March 25, 2017

The Joy of Penance

The celebration of Laetare Sunday reveals a deeper truth.

Fr. David Friel · March 19, 2017

What to Do with the “Fourth Option”

A new Adoremus article explores how best to overthrow the tyranny of “alius cantus congruus.”

Fr. David Friel · March 15, 2017

Dunwoodie Chant Conference • Review of a Successful Event

I was renewed in spirit for a future filled with hope for liturgical music.

Fr. David Friel · March 8, 2017

Revisiting Musicam Sacram

Fifty Years Later – Strengths, Weaknesses, and Progressive Solemnity

Fr. David Friel · March 5, 2017

Is There Music in Heaven?

The Sights and Sounds of St. John’s Apocalypse

Fr. David Friel · February 26, 2017

The Purpose of Art

Considerations from Tolstoy

Fr. David Friel · February 19, 2017

Will All Men Be Saved? 1

Hope vs. Certainty

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

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