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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

Richard J. Clark • Article Archive

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. He is also Chapel Organist (Saint Mary’s Chapel) at Boston College. His compositions have been performed worldwide.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Richard J. Clark · April 14, 2017

Descent into Hell and The Greatest Act of Love

Read the words of John 3:16 again.

Richard J. Clark · April 7, 2017

Sing Everything From the Viewpoint of the Resurrection

Music has a way of describing the indescribable, of bringing to speech the ineffable. That is what our choirs must do this Holy Week.

Richard J. Clark · March 24, 2017

New Music in Honor of Óscar Romero • E. Ethelbert Miller & Richard J. Clark

Pope Francis decreed Romero was martyred “in odium fidei” (“in hatred of the faith”). He was beatified in El Salvador on May 23, 2015.

Richard J. Clark · March 17, 2017

Not “What” but “Why” is Fascinating

Some people are put off…Some are bored to tears. I am fascinated. Why?

Richard J. Clark · March 10, 2017

Pope Francis, Sacred Music, and the Biggest Stage

Such musical exhortations are not new, but the tone and visibility are.

Richard J. Clark · March 4, 2017

Pope Francis on musical quality: “mediocrity, superficiality, and banality”

“Sometimes a certain mediocrity, superficiality and banality have prevailed, to the detriment of the beauty and intensity of liturgical celebrations.”

Richard J. Clark · February 24, 2017

Four Real Reasons for Roman Catholic Funerals

The real purpose of a Roman Catholic funeral is not what most people think.

Richard J. Clark · January 20, 2017

Communion Antiphons for Lent & Easter • NEW • World Library Publications

This is perhaps my favorite collection to date.

Richard J. Clark · January 13, 2017

Nuptial Blessings • Practice Videos • Order of Celebrating Matrimony

Fr. Gaspar eloquently emphasis key words and phrases, underscoring the beauty of the sacrament.

Richard J. Clark · January 6, 2017

Recording of Announcement of Easter and Movable Feasts • 2017

A very helpful recording for anyone singing this in English for the Ordinary Form.

Richard J. Clark · December 31, 2016

Mary was one of the strongest women to ever walk planet Earth.

“Meek,” “mild,” “humble,” and “lowly” are mistaken for submission and weakness. Only a person of great strength could possess such qualities.

Richard J. Clark · December 23, 2016

“Immense in the form of God, tiny in the form of a slave”

“Christmas is thus the feast of the loving humility of God….” — Pope Francis

Richard J. Clark · December 16, 2016

Art is an act of love.

At certain times, an artist requires refuge…

Richard J. Clark · December 9, 2016

Strong Leadership and Admitting Mistakes • Two Stories

A sure sign of an insecure leader is one whose first instinct is to blame others when something goes wrong.

Richard J. Clark · December 5, 2016

Communion Antiphons for Christmas on “Sounds from the Spires”

“Sounds from the Spires” has been a great supporter of sacred music in the liturgy, bringing choral music, chant, and the pipe organ to a broad audience.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”
    Do you direct a choir consisting of women or children only? (Some call this a “treble” choir.) Download a two-voice arrangement of Creator of the Starry Height set to the tune of IOANNES by clicking here and then scrolling to the bottom. In our times, this hymn is normally used during ADVENT, and the Latin title is: Cónditor alme síderum. It’s important to say “cónditor”—placing the accent on the antepenult—because ‘condítor’ in Latin means “one who embalms the dead.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Equal Voices” Choir Pieces
    My colleague, CORRINNE MAY, has posted some delightful compositions for equal voices: that is, choirs consisting of all men or all women. Included there are settings of the “Ave Maria” and “Tantum Ergo.” They strike me as relatively simple and not excessively lengthy. (In other words, within reach of volunteer singers.) Even better, all the scores have been made available as instant PDF downloads, completely free of charge. Bravo!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Night Office—Nocturns or Matins—except for Holy Week, Easter Octave, and Christmas, has never appeared in the Vatican edition. The larger part of the mediaeval repertory for the Office thus remains still unpublished in the Vatican edition, and is likely to remain so, for the obvious reason that almost no cathedral chapters or monastic choirs sing the Night Office regularly today.”

— John Merle Boe (1968)

Recent Posts

  • 2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”
  • PDF Download • Christmas Piece (SATB) — “Angels We Have Heard on High” with Text in Latin
  • “Equal Voices” Choir Pieces
  • A Practical Method of Projecting Solfege for Chant
  • PDF Downloads • Four (4) Simple Pieces in Harmony for Men’s Choirs

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