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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Lesson 1: The Principles of “Movable Do”

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Lesson 1: The Principles of “Movable Do”

Most people do not realize that all songs (not just Gregorian chant) can be sung starting on any pitch:

Middle Starting Pitch (Mp3)  •  Low Starting Pitch (Mp3)  •  High Starting Pitch (Mp3)

In these three examples, notice that even though I started on different pitches, the song did not change. As we will learn (below), the point to grasp is that the intervallic relationships stayed the same. Another way to say this would be: you can choose any pitch you like as a starting pitch, but you must never change the relationship of the intervals. If you want to sound really smart, you might say, “The intervallic relationships must remain inviolable.”

Singers with high voices will normally choose a higher starting pitch. Low singers will normally choose a lower starting pitch. Furthermore, our voices become higher as each day progresses. For instance, when I wake up in the morning, I can sing all the way down to a low G. But as the day progresses, my voice warms up, because I start speaking (I tend to talk too much!). As the voice warms up, it gets higher and higher. Therefore, if you pick out your starting pitches in the morning, but the Mass you’re singing occurs during the evening, you might find your pitches to be on the low side. On the other hand, if you decide on your starting pitches the night before an early morning Mass, you will probably be asking yourself, “How could I have chosen such high pitches?” The answer is that your voice was in a different condition when you chose those pitches.

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Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”
    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

[Let there be:] “The Latin, the whole Latin, and nothing but the Latin.”

— Cardinal McIntyre (one of the Vatican II fathers)

Recent Posts

  • “Offertory Verses and Why You Should Sing Them” (Includes PDF Download)
  • “Colorado Sacred Music Conference” August 9-10 (2023) • Highlands Ranch, CO
  • PDF Download • “Epitome Gradualis Romani” • Professionally Scanned — 1,106 pages!
  • Re: Ancient Sequence (Thursday after Pentecost)
  • PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.