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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Francisco Guerrero Composer

Jeff Ostrowski · June 13, 2025

Luis Martínez Must Go!

This notice shows that in Seville, as elsewhere, polyphonic singers clustered around a large open choirbook set on a stand in the middle of the grilled choir-enclosure.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 28, 2025

Re: “Abuse of Catholic Church Musicians”

Listening to yourself singing isn’t fun—but it’s crucial if you wish to improve.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 27, 2023

(Not Kidding) • Does Singing for Mass Fulfill One’s Obligation to Attend Mass?

Jeff Ostrowski provides five (5) responses to an assertion made by a priest.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2023

PDF Download • “Glory To God” for Congregation & Choir (Mass of Saint Noël Chabanel)

My setting begins with the entire congregation singing—but the middle section is SATB polyphony.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2023

Church Music Shouldn’t Be “Headache-Inducing”

Authentic sacred music should attract people. It should not drive them away.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2022

PDF Download • Brief Polyphonic “Asperges Me” for SATB by Father Guerrero (d. 1599)

Here’s my attempt at recording all the voices myself, to give you a rough idea how it sounds.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 9, 2022

“Defending the English” • Brief Riposte from Uganda

“As for the subject of whether the music of Tallis, Taverner, and Tye was tainted by the reformation, I would agree with Mr. Ostrowski.” —Reader from Uganda

Jeff Ostrowski · August 20, 2022

“New Section 2” • (Piecemeal Agnus Dei)

A wonderful way to get volunteers singing SATB polyphony immediately!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 11, 2022

Composing Your Own Antiphons?

In the days before Vatican II, dioceses had their own special feast days.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 21, 2022

PDF Download • “A Canon Choirs Love!”

You will notice Father Guerrero takes the chant melody (“Beata Mater”) and creates a perfect canon between Soprano and Alto.

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 3, 2022

“Repertoire Page” • Sacred Music Symposium 2022

Sign up today! A few voice parts still have openings.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 21, 2021

“Benedictus” (Missa Iste Sanctus) • All voices recorded by Corrinne May

Vatican II said: “The treasury of sacred music is to be preserved and fostered with great care” (SC §114).

Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2021

Missa “My Little Pony” by Dan Schutte • Its Pedigree

A USCCB statement: singing psalms at Mass “may create problems” … ?

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · October 13, 2021

Seven Solutions • “Getting Catholics Singing Again”

At the conservatory, we’re surrounded by hundreds of professional musicians; but stepping into a Catholic parish the situation is quite different.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · September 24, 2021

“Easy Polyphonic Agnus Dei” • Part 3 of 3

The ability of your singers to sight-read music instantly does not guarantee a good performance.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 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 propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —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

It is known that the “mora vocis” is part of the compulsory rules of recital of the “Vaticana” and is indicated in the Editio typica and its reprints by a somewhat larger spacing of the neume (one space-line) within one group of neuma.

— 1953 Schwann Edition (PREFACE)

Recent Posts

  • “What Martin Luther Said…”
  • “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Worship the Lord in Holy Attire
  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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