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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

PDF Download • Rare German Hymnal

Jeff Ostrowski · October 17, 2017

4195 In Dulci Jubilo HE Brébeuf Hymnal project is really coming along. I have been privileged (for several years) to serve on a committee creating this book. One of the members is a veritable encyclopedia of hymnody, and it’s difficult to find a tune, text, or author he doesn’t know. The amount of material we have unearthed is overwhelming, and I hope someday 100% can be released online.

We have commissioned a remarkable amount of new texts and melodies for this book. However, we will also include historic Catholic tunes that have been (unfairly) neglected—and the following book by Dreves has several nice ones.

For the first time in history we have placed this celebrated German hymnal online:

    * *  PDF Download •   O CHRIST HIE MERK!   (Rev. Dreves, 1885)

Fr. Robert Skeris, perhaps the world’s preëminent scholar of hymnody, wrote about Dreves:

In order to make available in practise some of the results of his research work, DREVES published two small books which were important and influential in the continuing discussion: Ein Wort zur Gesangbuchfrage and “O Christ hie merk!” DREVES intended his “Wort” as “building material” for an eventual German national hymnal. If the “Wort zur Gesangbuchfrage” is more theoretical, then “O Christ hie merk!” is completely practical: a hymnal with 150 tunes illustrating the principles set forth in the “Wort.” WITT identified himself with this “word” by saying that it expressed “the principles of the Caecilian Society on this point.”

Fr. Guido Maria Dreves was a Jesuit priest who died in 1909. He’s responsible for the definitive work (55 volumes) on Latin hymnody: Analecta Hymnica Medii Aevi.

DESCRIPTION OF THIS BOOK :

Dreves, Guido Maria S. J. — “O Christ hie merk!”
Ein Gesangbüchlein geistlicher Lieder. Freiburg im Breisgau.
Herdersche Verlagshandlung. 1885.
Mit Approbation des hochw. Herrn Erzbischofs von Freiburg.

S. Halbleinen-Bibliothekseinband mit Leinenecken und marm. Deckeln. Handbeschr. Rückenschild oben sowie Bibliotheksschild auf V-Deckel, gestempelt. Kanten und Deckel berieben, sonst gut. Innen stärker gebräunt, die ersten Seiten mit zahlreichen Bibliotheksstempeln und handschr. kleinen Eintragungen. Nach S. X im Gelenk angebrochen. Vorsätze sowie Innendeckel und erste bzw. letzte S. gilbtleckig, sonst sauber.

Zweck dieses Gesangbüchleins ist einzig und allein, die echt christlichen, echt volkstümlichen Lieder, wie sie von Anfang bei unseren Vorfahren in Brauch und Übung gewesen, dann aber in glaubensschwacher, nüchterner Zeit über Bord geworfen oder bis zu Unkenntlichkeit entstellt wurden, unserem Volke zurückzugeben, und zwar in einer Gestalt, die sich möglichst innig der überlieferten Urform des Liedes anschlösse (…) Aus dem Vorwort.

Mit zahlreichen Notenbeigaben.

DREVES. Guido Maria, Jesuit, Hymnologe und geistlicher Lyriker, * 27.10. 1854 in Hamburg als Sohn des Notars und Dichters Leberecht D., † 1.6. 1909 in Mitwitz bei Kronach (Ober.franken).

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 21st in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir returns on Sunday, 24 August 2025. Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for it, which is the 21st 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. When it comes to the feast of the Assumption (15 August 2025), I have uploaded the music list for that Mass—but not the “bi-lingual” Mass in the evening (Spanish, Latin, and English) which has completely different music.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 21st Sunday Ordin. Time
    You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) which is coming up on 24 August 2025. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. It’s set in a melancholy mode, but if you heard my choir’s female voices singing it your soul would be uplifted beyond belief. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I tried to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Random Quote

“There are some so restless that when they are free from labour they labour all the more, because the more leisure they have for thought, the worse interior turmoil they have to bear.”

— Pope Gregory the Great

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