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Corpus Christi Watershed

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

Articles

Fr. David Friel · March 25, 2017

The Joy of Penance

The celebration of Laetare Sunday reveals a deeper truth.

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.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2017

Musical Resources • 4th Sunday of Lent (“Laetare”)

“Grant, we beseech Thee, O merciful God, that we may treat with unfeigned veneration…Thy holy rites which we constantly celebrate.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2017

Easter Hymn: “O Filii et Filiæ” • Contemporary setting (SATB)

Pardon my squeaky Soprano notes, but I wanted to demonstrate how it sounds! • A wonderful setting of the haunting “Easter Alleluia” based on a work by Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 20, 2017

PDF Download • Booklet for St. Joseph (19 March)

The absolute best method for choosing starting pitches…

Fr. David Friel · March 19, 2017

What to Do with the “Fourth Option”

A new Adoremus article explores how best to overthrow the tyranny of “alius cantus congruus.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 18, 2017

Musical Resources • 3rd Sunday of Lent 1

“When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things which he possesseth are in peace…”

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?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 17, 2017

Quote Video • “Legislation on Sacred Music”

A thought-provoking production by “Six Candle Studios.”

Fr. David Friel · March 15, 2017

Dunwoodie Chant Conference • Review of a Successful Event

I was renewed in spirit for a future filled with hope for liturgical music.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 15, 2017

Do we need hymns, when we already have Psalms?

The Psalter, as Esolen notes, is the prayer book of the Church and the Psalms constitute the “foundational poems of Christian praise.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 14, 2017

Fighting With Choir Members?

“On Holy Saturday in 1545—while the pope and several cardinals were present—two of the oldest choir members flew at each other during the blessing of the new oils, shouting in a loud voice…”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 14, 2017

How Low Can You Sing?

I can’t even hear these pitches—can you?

Veronica Brandt · March 11, 2017

A CD from on High for Benedictines in Tasmania

A new CD you don’t have yet full of beautiful music raising funds for bringing more beautiful music to Tasmania.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 10, 2017

GoFundMe Campaign • Needing Scholarships!

Sacred Music: “Curse the darkness…or light a candle?”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Good Friday Flowers
    Good Friday has a series of prayers for various parties: the pope, catechumens, pagans, heretics, schismatics, and so forth. In the old liturgical books, there was no official ‘name’ for these prayers. (This wasn’t unusual as ‘headers’ and ‘titles’ for each section is a rather modern idea.) The Missal simply instructed the priest to go to the Epistle side and begin. In the SHERBORNE MISSAL, each prayer begins with a different—utterly spectacular—flower. This PDF file shows the first few prayers. Has anyone counted the ‘initial’ drop-cap flowers in the SHERBORNE MISSAL? Surely there are more than 1,000.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (3rd Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 3rd Sunday of Lent (8 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has magnificent propers. Its stern INTROIT (“Óculi mei semper ad Dóminum”) is breathtaking, and the COMMUNION (“Qui bíberit aquam”) with its fauxbourdon verses is wonderful. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation
    It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Grotesque Pairing • “Passion Chorale”
    One of our rarest releases was undoubtably this PDF scan of the complete Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) by Father Joseph Roff, a student of Healey Willan. One of the scarcest titles in existence, this book was provided to us by Mr. Peter Meggison. Back in 2018, we scanned each page and uploaded it to our website, making it freely available to everyone. Readers are probably sick of hearing me say this, but just because we upload something that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wonderful or worthy of imitation. We upload many publications precisely because they are ‘grotesque’, interesting, or revealing. Whereas the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal had an editorial board that was careful and sensitive vis-à-vis pairing texts with tunes, the Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) seems to have been rather reckless in this regard. Please take a look at what they did with the PASSION CHORALE and see whether you agree.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Jeffrey Tucker: “What are your thoughts on what passes for sacred music in most Catholic parishes today?” Richard Morris: “There’s nothing sacred about it. The tunes, rhythms, and messages are drawn mainly from secular culture. When it isn’t aesthetically repugnant and downright offensive to the Faith, it is utterly forgettable.”

— James Richard Morris (concert organist)

Recent Posts

  • Most “Congregational” Hymn • (In My Experience)
  • Music is the “Humble Handmaid” of the Mass
  • Good Friday Flowers
  • PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” for Holy Thursday (Plainsong in English)
  • “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation

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