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Corpus Christi Watershed

We’re a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2006. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and run no advertisements. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors.

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Views from the Choir Loft

Dr. Tappan • Article Archive

Dr. Lucas Tappan is a conductor and organist whose specialty is working with children. He lives in Kansas with his wife and four children.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Dr. Lucas Tappan · April 28, 2020

Audiation for Choristers

The reality in any great liturgical choir is that there is simply too much music to learn by rote.

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Dr. Lucas Tappan · April 14, 2020

The Overtone Series (Truly) Explained

While other musical scales and musical traditions find their origin in the overtone series, only western civilization has developed nature’s original gift into one of the world’s great achievements: Western music.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 26, 2020

Repeating Repertoire? • Dr. Tappan

“The tunes and ditties of the radio will be meaningless in the magnitude of one’s final moments; only the psalms can bear the weight of the moment.” —Barry Rose

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Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 3, 2020

The Institution as Formator (Part II)

Once we realize how high that standard for accepting a chorister is, it becomes easier to understand the boy’s rapid musical progress in the choir.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 25, 2020

Vaughan Williams’ Sage Advice for Those Appointing Martin Baker’s Successor

A comment on the importance of the role of director of music a Westminster Cathedral, following the resignation of Martin Baker, offered by Gregory Treloar.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 12, 2020

Incredible Opportunity In Kansas City

Educators who seek to shape students in both wisdom and virtue, and who share the belief that music and aesthetics play an integral part in the content of a Catholic liberal arts education should apply.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 7, 2020

Westminster Cathedral Choir School: Update

Jeff’s recent post made me think that perhaps a recap of all the events so far at Westminster Cathedral would be helpful to readers.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 4, 2020

The Institution as Formator (Part I)

Everyone is searching for a silver bullet. Perhaps it’s a certain education method, a special book or a technique. Standing somewhat in opposition to all of these various techniques and methods is the English choir school, where the director stands in front of the boys and says “that’s an A, now sing it!”

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Dr. Lucas Tappan · January 22, 2020

Here is Where We Go

What is absolutely necessary for the existence of a choral foundation?

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Dr. Lucas Tappan · November 26, 2019

Colin Mawby (1936-2019)

We commend his soul to the mercy of our Heavenly Father.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · November 19, 2019

Where do we go from here?

We need to break away from simply providing music for the next Sunday’s Masses.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · November 5, 2019

If You Want to Catch All the Youth

The “Schools Singing Programme” currently serves 4,000 children each year, many from the most economically depressed areas in England…

Dr. Lucas Tappan · October 29, 2019

A Professional Choir in Six (6) Years

Support was key, but once Glenn had the necessary vision and support, the rest was a matter of putting one foot in front of the other.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · October 15, 2019

A Professional Choir in Six Months

I often wonder if some of the vitriol directed against the Church’s music is due to its less than stellar presentation.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · October 1, 2019

A *What* School ?!!

These are things a choir director needs to think about as he plans to build a successful choral foundation at his own cathedral or parish.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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

Quick Thoughts

    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

Random Quote

“Ways to receive Our Lord as King of the Universe…read and reflect on the Sunday Scriptures, plan your whole weekend around receiving your King, wear your best garments, spend time in quiet, kneel to receive Him, receive Him on the tongue, offer silent time of thanks after mass.”

— Most Rev. Bishop Strickland (15 December)

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

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