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Views from the Choir Loft

Musical Creed — Text From New Roman Missal

Jeff Ostrowski · February 26, 2014

AST FRIDAY I put aside a few hours to compose this musical setting of the Creed, dedicated to my brother, Deacon Mark Ostrowski. Below, I explain what I was trying to do from a compositional standpoint. Yesterday afternoon, I recorded a practice video, so you can hear it. Please pardon the bad singing (when I’m playing the organ, my mouth often gets too close to the microphone):


Before I explain why I composed this Creed, here are the files you can download:

* *  St. Felix Creed • Congregational Printout

* *  St. Felix Creed • Choir Score (Modern Notation)

* *  St. Felix Creed • Choir Score (Gregorian)

* *  St. Felix Creed • Organ Accompaniment Score

HERE’S WHAT I TRIED to accomplish in writing this piece:

1.) I wanted this setting to be interesting, so people don’t get bored after a few weeks. On the other hand, I kept the congregational sections in a low range, with somewhat simple melodies.

2.) With respect to switching between sections, the Creed is very long, so I tried to “mix it up.” If it goes back and forth in a predictable, monotonous way, people get nauseated.

3.) The congregational sections tend toward a “brighter” reciting tone, while the cantor parts hover around a “darker” reciting tone — again, to keep things interesting!

4.) I treated the cadences differently each time, rather than doing the same thing a billion times, over and over.

* *  St. Felix Creed • Audio Practice Recording (Mp3 File)

 

If you appreciate this Creed setting, please consider donating $5.00 per month. Thanks!

 

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Musical Setting of the Creed, Roman Missal Third Edition Last Updated: May 6, 2022

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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    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
    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
    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

Random Quote

“The sun’s disc did not remain immobile. This was not the sparkling of a heavenly body, for it spun round on itself in a mad whirl, when suddenly a clamor was heard from all the people. The sun, whirling, seemed to loosen itself from the firmament and advance threateningly upon the earth as if to crush us with its huge fiery weight. The sensation during those moments was terrible.”

— ‘Dr. Almeida Garrett, professor of natural sciences at the University of Coimbra (1917)’

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