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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

Gregorian Chant

Fr. David Friel · May 2, 2021

Summer Course in the Ward Method

CUA is pleased to announce that this week-long intensive course will be offered in person this summer.

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Dr. Charles Weaver · February 24, 2021

Solmization from the Inside

What if we take medieval music pedagogy seriously? Do its methods have anything to offer us today?

Fr. David Friel · February 7, 2021

Musical Notation for New EF Prefaces

Facilitating the chanting of the seven prefaces permitted by “Quo magis”

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Fr. David Friel · January 16, 2021

Thou Hast Saved the Good Wine until Now

Reflections on the communion chant for the Second Sunday after Epiphany

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Keven Smith · December 28, 2020

Start the New Year Right with a Spectacular Alleluia

If you attend the Extraordinary Form, the Alleluia for the Octave of the Nativity will enable you to start the New Year with a bang.

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Fr. David Friel · December 6, 2020

The Prophet Baruch: Surge, Ierusalem, Look to the East!

The communion chant for the Second Sunday of Advent, together with the introit and offertory, invite us to reflect on the Holy City, Jerusalem.

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 19, 2020

PDF Download • Several Useful Plainsong Books

“Variae Preces” (1892) — “Cantus Varii” (1902) — “Cantus Varii” (1928) — “Cantus Selecti” (1957)

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Keven Smith · November 2, 2020

Place Me Among the Sheep, Not the Goats

The Dies Irae is part of why my choir prefers singing Requiems to Nuptial Masses. Here’s why you should spend a few minutes with this Sequence on All Souls Day.

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Fr. David Friel · October 12, 2020

Sacred Music Boot Camp 2020

Three days of practical chant instruction and immersion in the treasury of Catholic sacred music

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Fr. David Friel · September 16, 2020

Solesmes Publishes “Antiphonale Romanum I” for Lauds

This 2020 chant edition makes possible the chanting of Lauds according to the Liturgy of the Hours.

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Keven Smith · September 14, 2020

Graduale Renovatum: New Resource Brings Chant Rhythm to Life

These intuitive manuscripts give singers the information they need to bring out the oft-ignored nuances of chant rhythm.

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Keven Smith · August 11, 2020

Why Are You a Church Musician, Anyway?

(Keven Smith) • Now is the perfect time for us all to stop and reflect on where we came from as church musicians. What was it that first made you interested in singing, directing, or playing the organ?+

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Keven Smith · June 29, 2020

Real Life in a Large Church Choir Program (Part IV of IV)

We come now to the final installment in my series on our music program at St. Stephen the First Martyr Catholic Church in Sacramento, California.

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Guest Author · June 29, 2020

Chanting and Spiritual Health

In a time of contagion and social unrest, we need plainchant more than ever, even when we stay home.

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 27, 2020

Sister Goodchild • “Gregorian Chant for Church and School”

This 130-page book can be downloaded for free.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“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)

Recent Posts

  • The Real Miracle of Gregorian Chant
  • Why A “Fugue” Here?
  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”

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