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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

President's Corner

Jeff Ostrowski · May 9, 2023

Vespers Accompaniment Booklet

A VESPERS ACCOMPANIMENT BOOKLET (20 pages) for this coming Sunday—the 5th Sunday after Easter—can now be downloaded. Those who sing Vespers exactly as given in the ANTIPHONALE ROMANUM will notice that all five psalms for Eastertide are sung according to the exact same tone with the exact same differentiæ. Can someone explain why this is? […]

Jeff Ostrowski · May 7, 2023

Symposium Booklet (330 Pages)

As of 6 May 2023, anyone who wishes to may download the COMPLETED BOOKLET (330 pages) which was created for participants of Sacred Music Symposium 2023. Those who were accepted to participate in this year’s conference will be presented with their own (hard-copy) printed version of this breathtaking booklet. The faculty this year includes Professor […]

Jeff Ostrowski · May 6, 2023

6 May 2023 • FEEDBACK

Examples of comments we recently received, from all over the globe:   (1) “The Byrd composition your student sung was certainly beautiful. I cannot say how thankful I am for all that CCWATERSHED does in the world of sacred music. The videos, and recorded audios and newsletters are wonderful and beautiful. When you said that […]

Jeff Ostrowski · April 27, 2023

FEEDBACK • 26 April 2023

A reader wrote to us about the MELCOMBE HYMN ARTICLE (whose official title was: 1950s Catholicism: Do We Want It Back?) with these kind words: “I so wish there was a CD of your choir. The Introit the other day stays with me all day!”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 24, 2023

It’s Coming!

The draft booklet (320 pages) which will—in a gorgeous hard-copy—be given to participants at the Sacred Music Symposium has been released. If you see any typos, please let me know ASAP. Thank you!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 22, 2023

FEEDBACK • “Soul Was Craving”

I got this (personal) message from a choir member. I know we usually avoid sharing personal items, but hopefully this exception is warranted: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, I read your recent article, “I Came From Somewhere.” I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you for all that you do. I appreciate your sentiments and your work to […]

Jeff Ostrowski · April 11, 2023

“Repugnant Pairing” (In My View)

We have spoken many times about the common tunes contained in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal. I have suggested that these “shared melodies” are crucial for any director attempting to build a serious choral program in today’s environment. However, I’ve also said hymn pairings must be done with great sensitivity. Take a look at […]

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2023

Vespers Booklet (4th Sunday of Lent)

The organ accompaniment booklet (24 pages) which I created for the 4th Sunday of Lent (“Lætare Sunday”) may now be downloaded, for those who desire such a thing.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 17, 2023

“The German Palestrina”

Although it’s a hideous accompaniment, I’ve added the harmonization by Monsignor Franz Nekes to this collection of nineteen organ accompaniments for the Easter Sunday Sequence: Víctimæ Pascháli Laudes. Once upon a time, Monsignor Nekes was a very popular composer, known as “The German Palestrina.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 12, 2023

Vespers Booklet, 3rd Sunday of Lent

The organ accompaniment I created for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (“Extraordinary Form”) may now be downloaded, if anyone is interested in this.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 7, 2023

Weeping For Joy! (We Hope!)

Listening to this Easter Alleluia—an SATB arrangement I made twenty years ago based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel—one of our readers left this comment: “I get tears in my eyes each time I sing to this hymn.” I hope this person is weeping for joy!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 28, 2023

“The Times” mentions CCW

We were mentioned in article in an article by “The Times” (United Kingdom), as you can see here.

Dr. Charles Weaver · February 27, 2023

An Interview on Mocquereau’s Method

I recently appeared on Square Notes, the Sacred Music Podcast to discuss some of the basics of Dom Mocquereau’s system of Gregorian rhythm. It’s impossible to give a full treatment to such a complex topic in a mere forty minutes, but I touched on a lot of the foundational ideas, with especial emphasis on the […]

Jeff Ostrowski · February 19, 2023

Three-Voice Piece You’ll Love!

To help my volunteer choir members learn, I have attempted to record all the vocal parts for Justorum Animae, composed for SOPRANO, ALTO, and BASS. It’s from a brilliant collection by Kevin Allen called Matri Divinae Gratiae. You can hear my attempt by visiting this website and scrolling down to “Justorum Animæ.” My singers really […]

Jeff Ostrowski · February 13, 2023

Please Accept This Advice!

If you’ve been considering attending the Sacred Music Symposium, I suggest you send in your application as soon as possible. The committee that meets to evaluate each candidate has been going through them—and they are scheduled to convene again this week. (They do their best to get through as many as they can as quickly […]

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
    All the chants for 3 August 2025—which is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)—have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (from the book of Wisdom) is stunning. That feast website has been called “the best kept secret of Church music.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Corn” From Heaven?
    The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scriptures was produced by Roman Catholics in England and bears a 15 March 1958 IMPRIMATUR from the Archbishop of Westminster. Its IMPRIMI POTEST was given by the director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Sometimes words chosen by translators sound funny to American ears. For instance, one of our Responsorial Psalms has as its refrain: “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.” But the British version has “The Lord gave them corn from heaven.” Feel free to examine this with your own eyes. (It comes from Psalm 77.)
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 17th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (27 July 2025). 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 the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“We must remember that the important elements of a rite are not the things that will first be noticed by a casual and ignorant onlooker—the number of candles, colour of the vestments and places where the bell is rung—but just those things he would not notice: the Canon, fraction and so on, the prayers said in a low voice and the characteristic but less obvious rites done by the celebrant at the altar.”

— Fr. Fortescue explaining that Anglicanism does not preserve Sarum

Recent Posts

  • “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • “Corn” From Heaven?
  • Gospel Acclamation Verses … Nowhere Assigned?
  • False! • “Youthful” Music Attracts the Young
  • “I Don’t Care Anymore!” • Lead by Loving Example

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