“O Magnum Mysterium” • Do You Sing This?
The Consilium of Pope Paul VI asked (15 March 1965): “Is it pleasing that the feast of the Holy Family be suppressed?”
Know your hymns? How Well?
Several singers from my choir recently recorded this beautiful hymn (Mp3), using famous lyrics from the Brébeuf Hymnal. How well do you know your hymns? Can you name that tune? If so, please email us. If you correctly name that tune, I’ll declare: “You really know your hymns!”
PDF Download • Msgr. Hellriegel’s “Hand-Written” Hymnal (Organ Accompaniment) — 102 pages
A major announcement on 8 January 2024!
Organ? Or SATB unaccompanied?
Pipe organ (with voices) or unaccompanied SATB? Which do you prefer? Yesterday at Mass, my volunteer choir gave you an opportunity to compare “apples to apples.” Simply click here and compare the first verse with the second. For the record, that melody is called by various names: ALTONA, VOM HIMMEL HOCH, ERFURT, and so on.
Simple “Salve Regina” • Its Origins
In the past, I have attempted to determine the origins of the “simple” Salve Regina chant. When it comes to the so-called “restored” plainsong books, the earliest instance I can find (of the simple version) is in the LIBER RESPONSORIALIS, published in 1895, a marvelous book based upon the groundbreaking research of Dom Joseph Pothier. […]
“I’ll Keep Your Secret, Choirmasters!” • (Tell Jeff)
She claimed she’d rather die than sing “womb” at Mass, since she considered it to be a medical term.
Do You Recognize This “Christmas” Tune?
Over the last 70 years, ST VENANTIUS has fallen out of favor. One reason might be that many harmonizations of it are “chunky.” I was pleased to see the Brébeuf Hymnal adopted the harmonization by Dom Gregory Murray (probably the finest ever created for ST VENANTIUS). This morning, I created this pipe organ recording. The […]
“Jesu Redemptor Omnium” • Translated into English
“Thou light, thou radiance of the Father, thou undying hope of all, pay heed to the prayers that thy servants pour forth throughout the earth…”
PDF • January 1st (Organ Accomp. Booklet)
Anyone who wishes to may download the Organ Accompaniment Booklet (22 pages) I created for FIRST VESPERS of January 1st. That feast has various names, including “In Octava Nativitatis Domini.” These organ accompaniment booklets take forever to make!
Christmas • “Approached By A Famous Musicologist”
If you’re somebody who likes grandiloquence, you’ll prefer the description by Dr. Ellis.
Jeff Ostrowski Attempts To Sing “Corde Natus”
“There were only two classes of men who heard the cry that night…” Fulton J. Sheen
“Corde Natus Ex Parentis” (SATB)
A few minutes ago, I uploaded an English SATB version of “CORDE NATUS EX PARENTIS” (an ancient Christmas hymn by Prudentius). A nifty Latin version is also available. The quickest way to download either is to visit #668 in the Portal and scroll down to where it says: Additional information about Hymn 668. Many people […]
“Not Schmaltzy” • An Ancient Christmas Hymn
Sharing one’s opinions candidly is a quick way to make lifelong enemies.
How To Contact Corpus Christi Watershed
We thought you might enjoy reading messages we’ve received over the last few weeks.
“Liber Usualis” • Jeff’s Proposed Modifications
In 1957, the Abbey of Solesmes publicly claimed copyright over “the rhythmic signs 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁.”