Views from the Choir Loft

1910’s Early version of Nova Organi Harmonia (NOH)

Corpus Christi Watershed · March 19, 2013

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The Nova Organi Harmonia was preceded by an earlier collection, by Lemmens professors Alfons Desmet, Aloysius Desmet et Oscar Depuydt. Canon Van Nuffel, who directed the publication of the NOH, was a student of Oscar Depuydt and Alphons Desmet. Many of the collaborators (Henri Durieux, Marinus de Jong, Flor Peeters, and Staf Nees) were students of Van Nuffel.

* * 1910’s Early version of NOH (Pars IV) — Brothers Desmet & Depuydt

• Early version of the Nova Organi Harmonia, by Desmet brothers and Osc. Depuydt • published 1910’s (?) • Organum comitans ad Graduale sacrosanctae romanae ecclesiae SS.D.N. Pii X: pontificis maximi jussu restitutum et editum • par Alph. Desmet, Aloys Desmet et Osc. Depuydt. • Mechelen [Malines]: H. Dessain. •

* * 1910’s Early version of NOH (Pars VI) — Brothers Desmet & Depuydt

• Early version of the Nova Organi Harmonia, by Desmet brothers and Osc. Depuydt • published 1910’s (?) • Organum comitans ad Graduale sacrosanctae romanae ecclesiae SS.D.N. Pii X: pontificis maximi jussu restitutum et editum • par Alph. Desmet, Aloys Desmet et Osc. Depuydt. • Mechelen [Malines]: H. Dessain. • COMMUNE SANCTORUM • This book is quite important because the opening pages have a date: 25 April 1907 •

* * 1910’s Early version of NOH (Pars VII) — Brothers Desmet & Depuydt

• Early version of the Nova Organi Harmonia, by Desmet brothers and Osc. Depuydt • published 1910’s (?) • Organum comitans ad Graduale sacrosanctae romanae ecclesiae SS.D.N. Pii X: pontificis maximi jussu restitutum et editum • par Alph. Desmet, Aloys Desmet et Osc. Depuydt. • Mechelen [Malines]: H. Dessain. • Missae Propriae pro div. dioec. Belgii •

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

“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

“Music List” • 27th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 5 October 2025, which is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. Readers will want to check out the ENTRANCE CHANT posted there, which has a haunting melody (in the DEUTERUS MODE) and extremely powerful text.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Kids’ Choir Sings Thomas Aquinas

Last Sunday, a children’s choir I’m teaching sang with us for the very first time at Sunday Mass. Females from our main choir sang along with them. If you’re curious to hear how they sounded, you can listen to a ‘live’ recording. That’s an English version of TANTUM ERGO by Saint Thomas Aquinas. That haunting melody is called GAUFESTRE and was employed for this 2-Voice Arrangement of a special hymn for 9 November (“Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome”) which replaces a Sunday this year.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of September (2025)

Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams

Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?

Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.

—Jeff Ostrowski