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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

Announcement! • “New Spanish Hymnal”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 17, 2024

EN YEARS AGO, we made an announcement. We declared publicly we’d begun work on a Spanish hymnal. Since that time, many have inquired about this project. They wanted to know whether it had been abandoned. Today I have another announcement: our project was never abandoned. We’ve been slowly collecting books and resources from all over the world. We believe there’s a tremendous need for a traditional Catholic Spanish hymnal.*

Volunteers Needed • At this point, we’re reaching out for assistance from native speakers (i.e. those fluent in Spanish). Volunteers join a special team—“CŒTUS” in Latin—that gets to hear all the songs in advance. Our proofreading procedure is rather simple: (a) Proposed hymns are sent out to the proofreaders; (b) If a significant number flag an “issue” or “problem” or “objection,” the hymn is sent back to our team of experts—including some who work at the Vatican. If you’re willing to help, please notify us: jeff@ccwatershed.org

An Example In Spanish • Here’s an example of our setting of Ad Regias Agni Dapes (an ancient Catholic hymn suitable for Eastertide or Holy Communion):

Free rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #33013.

No More Hokey • One priest said to us: “Hispanic Catholics in our parishes are often given leftovers and garbage—but they deserve the same as everyone else.” We do not believe music sung at Spanish Masses must ipso facto sound “hokey” or “secular” or “un-Churchy” or “undignified.” For instance, there’s no reason why the following setting of Ad Regias Agni Dapes (sung last Sunday by the 100% volunteer choir I direct) could not be translated into Spanish:

To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Not Rocket Science! • Once your congregation learns an excellent tune—following the shared melodies technique made famous by the Brébeuf Hymnal—that same melody can be used for other texts. Below is another example (from last Sunday) by the 100% volunteer choir I’m privileged to direct. One of the things I discuss constantly in this video seminar is the idea that conscientious choirmasters strive to avoid monotony. To that end, you might notice I add little “organ improvisations” between the verses:

To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Hymnal Title • We have not yet chosen a name for our collection. We’re considering something like: Himnario De La Santa Fe.

* Many had great expectations for a Spanish hymnal released by GIA Publications called ORAMOS CANTANDO. (Perhaps we shouldn’t have had high hopes, because GIA Publications is owned and operated by a non-Christian family.) To make a long story short, ORAMOS CANTANDO was a huge disappointment. Essentially, they just took a bunch of 1980s Broadway songs about “butterflies” and “gathering” and translated them into Spanish. A disproportionate amount of the translations were done by one person. Moreover, many songs included in ORAMOS CANTANDO have lyrics written by notoriously iniquitous men, including one who’s been accused by more than 44 women of horrific sexual crimes going back to 1979.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Ad Regias Agni Dapes, Chaumonot Composers Group, Spanish Hymnal for Catholics, Spanish Mass Propers, Traditional Latin Mass Spanish Missal, TRADITIONAL SPANISH HYMNAL Last Updated: May 2, 2024

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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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 21st in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir returns on Sunday, 24 August 2025. Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for it, which is the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). 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 spectacular feasts website. When it comes to the feast of the Assumption (15 August 2025), I have uploaded the music list for that Mass—but not the “bi-lingual” Mass in the evening (Spanish, Latin, and English) which has completely different music.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Entrance Chant” • 21st Sunday Ordin. Time
    You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) which is coming up on 24 August 2025. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. It’s set in a melancholy mode, but if you heard my choir’s female voices singing it your soul would be uplifted beyond belief. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I tried to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

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“It is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time at peril of being judged not to have lived.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes

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