Views from the Choir Loft

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PDF Download • Chant Notation—Nuptial Blessing (EF)

Fr. David Friel · September 8, 2019 ·

With permission from the CDF, the nuptial blessing at a sung EF Mass may be chanted according to this melody.

PDF Download • Handy Solfège Chart (Printable)

Jeff Ostrowski · September 2, 2019 ·

I have no idea whether this will be of use to anyone, but here it is…

PDF Download • “Sanctus For Two Voices”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 1, 2019 ·

“In general, it is better to do something well, however modest, than to attempt something on a grander scale if proper means are lacking.” —Pope Pius XII

PDF Download • “Seasonal Index” (Brébeuf Hymnal)

Veronica Moreno · July 16, 2019 ·

I can’t always recognize a hymn tune by its name, especially when the Missalette only provides lyrics. Please don’t judge me; that’s the honest truth.

PDF Download • Symposium Booklet (159 pages)

Jeff Ostrowski · June 12, 2019 ·

…probably unlike any musical booklet you’ve come across!

PDF Download • Vespers Organ Accompaniments

Jeff Ostrowski · June 10, 2019 ·

Do you understand why some of the harmonies are blank?

PDF Download • “Magnificat” + Rehearsal Videos!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 4, 2019 ·

“You think I’m kidding, but I’m not. I know of no greater piece than this.” —Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • Palestrina “Gloria” w/ practice videos!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 23, 2019 ·

Careful: the Alto line is surprisingly difficult!

PDF Download • Franz Liszt and Gregorian Chant

Jeff Ostrowski · May 17, 2019 ·

Many would ask: “What is the purpose of posting such books? Are we supposed to sing from them?”

PDF Download • Complete Kyriale on Modern Staves!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 2, 2019 ·

If you can read treble clef, you can read this edition … a brilliant idea!

Could Pope St. Pius X Sing?

“On 12 March 1908, the complete publication of the Roman Gradual was issued by the Vatican Press. On that very day, Dom Pothier solemnly presented the first copy to the Holy Father. A witness of the audience says that Pius X wished to be the first to see the new book; he opened it at random, at page 128 of the supplement pro aliquibus locis—it was the Introit of the new Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Pope sang it with perfect taste to the last note.” (Catholic Choirmaster, February 1915)

—Jeff Ostrowski

Julius Bas Accompaniment

A very prolific harmonizer of Gregorian chant in the early 20th century was Mr. Julius Bas. He often uses a very strange technique, wherein he employs rests to eliminate the Alto, Tenor, and Bass voices. Consider what he did with “Lumen ad revelationem” here:

* JPEG • Lumen ad revelationem

It seems quite lazy, and I’ve never seen anyone else use such a technique, although Dr. Peter Wagner often switched to parallel octaves when he ran out of ideas… (Yuck!)

—Jeff Ostrowski

Hitting wrong notes

Fr. Valentine Young, OFM, used to say: “The organist can play 1,000 correct notes and one wrong note—and the only thing people will care about is the wrong note.” Last Sunday I hit some wrong notes, and felt bad. Then I remembered a story about Rudolf Serkin and started to chuckle. Charles Rosen (or was it Leon Fleisher?) told the story of Serkin playing a Beethoven Sonata in front of a large audience. The theme is all in octaves; but Serkin hit some wrong notes, and played parallel 7ths instead. This so unnerved him that every time the theme returned, he played the entire thing in parallel 7ths! We must remember that even the greatest hit wrong notes. Alfred Cortot, Vladimir Horowitz, Wilhelm Backhaus, Edwin Fischer, Sviatoslav Richter, Egon Petri—they all hit wrong notes, which we can hear on recordings. (Josef Hofmann was an exception, but he was super-human so he doesn’t count!)

—Jeff Ostrowski