Palestrina “O Crux Ave” • Practice Videos
I’ve been yearning to sing this piece since 2002.
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.”
A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He completed studies in Education and Musicology at the graduate level. Having worked as a church musician in Los Angeles for ten years, in 2024 he accepted a position as choirmaster for Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Michigan, where he resides with his wife and children. —Read full biography (with photographs).
«GLORIA in EXCELSIS» is not said from Septuagesima Sunday until Easter, except on Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday, & some special feasts.
In my youth, I recall singing some of these same songs at Mass, but I refused to do the hand gestures.
Your more advanced singers will love this piece by Palestrina!
“My Roman collar is my television uniform.” —Fr. Richard McBrien
“It contains about two hundred hymns—all from approved sources—and covers every phase of Catholic devotion.” —Foreword by the Bishop of La Crosse
Hymns can be implemented into the Latin High Mass with great effect.
Historically, “liturgy” referred to a service done for the people, not by them.
“We feel that the selection of hymns leaves little to be desired…” —From the 1942 Foreword
“Yet zephyrs vainly fan me, and flow’rs to groves invite…”
Some people accept a job as choir director and say, “I have five singers who don’t read music, so I guess that’s how it will always be.”
It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful text than Sedulius’ Hymn: Hostis Herodes Impie.
This extremely rare Catholic hymn book is here made available for the first time ever as a PDF download.
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