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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

organ

Keven Smith · October 25, 2023

Organ Improviser in the Spotlight: Wayne Warren

Here’s what you can learn from this Florida-based artist.

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Keven Smith · July 15, 2023

Finding Realistic Inspiration for Organ Improvisation

Here’s where to find improvisation recordings you can actually emulate.

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Keven Smith · August 2, 2022

Need Easy Organ Pieces? Try This Little-Known Composer

Add these fuguettes and trios to your repertoire with minimal practice time.

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Keven Smith · June 28, 2021

Organ Improvisation: To Record, or Not to Record?

If you missed it, you can hear my iPhone recording on YouTube. But will it be quite the same?

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Keven Smith · May 31, 2021

Charles Tournemire: An Organist’s Best Friend

Tournemire’s L’Orgue Mystique is an indispensable resource—especially for organists who are feeling “stuck” in their improvisation.

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Keven Smith · March 9, 2021

The Anatomy of an Organ Improvisation

Here are some audio samples from recent Masses, along with explanations of what I was thinking for each improvisation.

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Keven Smith · March 1, 2021

Three Ways to Improvise at the Organ

Don’t just play the organ. Pray the organ.

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Keven Smith · February 23, 2021

Four Reasons to Improvise at the Organ

If an ex-clarinetist can do it, you can do it—and the benefits far outweigh the effort involved.

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Keven Smith · February 16, 2021

PDF • “Spiritual Mass Plan for Church Organists”

Some guidance on how to stay recollected at a low Mass while you’re also playing organ.

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Keven Smith · July 7, 2020

Unslumping Yourself with the King of Instruments

On those days when you can’t quite put your heart into singing, improvising at the organ can be comforting and rewarding.

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Veronica Brandt · December 1, 2018

PDF Download • “Easy Organ Interludes” (229 pages)

Giovanni Battista Fasolo published an enormous book of organ interludes without pedals • Pierre Gouin typed them up, bringing you this clear window into renaissance liturgical music for free! • Enjoy this treasure trove of organ music from almost 400 years ago! Plus a few highlights from along the way+

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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

“Much of the reordering [in 1970] of the pieces of the Roman Gradual seems arbitrary and useless; nevertheless, with some exceptions, it does not affect the shape of the service, since like pieces are exchanged for like.”

— Dr. William Peter Mahrt

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