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Corpus Christi Watershed

“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

congregational singing

Fr. David Friel · February 2, 2019

Fourth-Century Advice for Choir Directors

A passage from Nicetas of Remesiana remains eminently applicable today.

Richard J. Clark · April 10, 2015

Let This Holy Building Shake with Joy!

Sometimes everything comes together. How is this achieved? Here are a few ways.

Richard J. Clark · February 20, 2015

Permission Needed to Replace the Propers?—(1 of 7)

“Tacit approval” alone isn’t getting the job done. It is abdicating authority to composers and publishers, pastors and liturgists.

Veronica Brandt · January 3, 2015

Easy Organ Hymns for Catholics

There is a built in tendency for nervous musicians to rush things – I think as your heart beats faster, your perception of time is dilated. As you build more confidence your sense of timing improves too.

Richard J. Clark · July 18, 2014

Basic Steps To Improve Music At Your Parish — Part 3

Turn off the microphones. This can be a challenge when many parishes and even some cathedrals are enamored of carpeting – to say nothing of seat cushions!

Richard J. Clark · May 30, 2014

Mass in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea

Michael Olbash’s “Mass in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea” demonstrates the mandate of Pope Saint Pius X that music for the liturgy be Sacred, Beautiful, and Universal.

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 19, 2014

Mass In Honor Of Saint Isaac Jogues

Using the New Translation of the Roman Missal.

Richard J. Clark · April 27, 2014

Mass in Honor of Pope Saint John Paul II

FREE DOWNLOAD of the complete score AND recordings.

Richard J. Clark · April 25, 2014

PREVIEW – Mass in Honor of Pope Saint John Paul II

Preview of the “Mass in Honor of Pope Saint John Paul II” Listen to the Gloria!

Richard J. Clark · April 11, 2014

Mass of the Angels | Congregational Mass Setting in English

“My opinion is that this is one of the best congregational settings of the new texts.” — Adam Wood

Richard J. Clark · February 7, 2014

Disparagement Is Not Helping the Cause of Liturgical Reform

Disparagement is not catechesis. It is destructive. If we are to catechize and evangelize, we must put God first, not our own preferences. Meanwhile, we must catechize and strive for the ideal.

Richard J. Clark · January 17, 2014

Gregorian Propers at a Nuptial Mass in “Southie”?

“Southie” is a section of Boston better known from the films “Good Will Hunting” and “The Departed.” It is also infamous for the convicted murderer and gangster, James “Whitey” Bulger. But, yes, glorious Gregorian Propers, polyphony, and hymnody at a Nuptial Mass in “Southie.”

Fr. David Friel · December 15, 2013

Tallis Scholars Live

In Praise of A Polyphonic Credo

Jeff Ostrowski · December 2, 2013

How “Catholic” Is Congregational Singing?

John Paul II asked your forgiveness in 1980 … did you forgive him?

Jeff Ostrowski · June 10, 2013

Entering The Danger Zone: Congregational Singing

Are we being honest when we claim that the “entire congregation” can sing a hymn at Mass? I had to search pretty hard, but finally found someone willing to admit the truth.

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Quick Thoughts

Surprising Popularity!

One of our most popular downloads has proven to be the organ accompaniment to “The Monastery Hymnal” (131 pages). This book was compiled, arranged, and edited by Achille P. Bragers, who studied at the Lemmensinstituut (Belgium) about thirty years before that school produced the NOH. Bragers might be considered an example of Belgium “Stile Antico” whereas Flor Peeters and Jules Van Nuffel represented Belgium “Prima Pratica.” You can download the hymnal by Bragers at this link.

—Jeff Ostrowski
15 February 2021 • To Capitalize…?

In the Introit for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost, there is a question regarding whether to capitalize the word “christi.” The Vulgata does not, because Psalm 27 is not specifically referring to Our Lord, but rather to God’s “anointed one.” However, Missals tend to capitalize it, such as the official 1962 Missal and also a book from 1777 called Missel de Paris. Something tells me Monsignor Knox would not capitalize it.

—Jeff Ostrowski
15 February 2021 • “Sung vs. Spoken”

We have spoken quite a bit about “sung vs. spoken” antiphons. We have also noted that the texts of the Graduale Romanum sometimes don’t match the Missal texts (in the Extraordinary Form) because the Mass Propers are older than Saint Jerome’s Vulgate, and sometimes came from the ITALA versions of Sacred Scripture. On occasion, the Missal itself doesn’t match the Vulgate—cf. the Introit “Esto Mihi.” The Vulgate has: “Esto mihi in Deum protectórem et in domum refúgii…” but the Missal and Graduale Romanum use “Esto mihi in Deum protectórem et in locum refúgii…” The 1970s “spoken propers” use the traditional version, as you can see.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“To me nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Masses for ever, and not be tired.”

— John Henry Cardinal Newman (1848)

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  • Solmization from the Inside

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