Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download: Standard Catholic Hymnal (1921)

Jeff Ostrowski · January 15, 2015

Here’s the direct URL link.

HE RARE HYMNALS we have been releasing all have one thing in common: None were available as a PDF download before we scanned & posted them. They’re absolutely fascinating from a historical perspective, and we’re searching through them to find any “hidden gems” for the forthcoming Brébeuf Hymnal. Here’s one compiled, edited, and arranged by James A. Reilly in 1921:

* * PDF: Standard Catholic Hymnal (1921)

Published by McLaughlin & Reilly (“Publishers of Catholic Church Music Exclusively”), it bears a 1921 Imprimatur by William Cardinal O’Connell, who had published his own hymnal in 1915. It’s no accident that the very first hymn in Reilly’s book is by Cardinal O’Connell.

Much could be said about this book, but for now I’ll mention just one thing. I was intrigued by the note written underneath John Henry Cardinal Newman’s hymn (#130):

This hymn is not approved by church music commissions in some dioceses due to its association with Protestant Services.

I hope you enjoy perusing this book as much as I did, friends!

Alphabetizing Hymnals
Does it make sense?
Natalia answers in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Notating Every Verse?
The least we can do for singers!
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Why Name a Hymnal After Father Brébeuf?
Who Was This Saint?
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

What Are Its Two Sections?
Truly crucial information!
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Stations of the Cross by Fulton J. Sheen?
Plus Cardinal Ratzinger & Saint Alphonsus Liguori.
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Common Hymn Melodies
(a.k.a. “Shared Tunes”)
Natalia explains in this video:

Here’s the direct URL link.

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

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).

Lectionary Errors

If you look at the official Responsorial Psalm (PDF) for this coming Sunday, you’ll notice the current Lectionary has the wrong refrain. Why is this a big deal? Why even mention such a thing? Everybody makes mistakes, right? Here’s why it matters. The USCCB—which makes money by selling the sacred liturgical texts—has historically been ruthless when it comes to such matters. When various publishers point out errors to them, their response has been: “If you dare to correct the error, we’ll sue you.” These errors are not a matter of nuance; e.g. sometimes the previous (English) edition of the Lectionary got them right! Bottom Line: mandatory, indulgenced, liturgical texts shouldn’t be sold; they should be freely available to all Catholics.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • SABT Enhancement (“Our Father”)

If you direct music in the ORDINARY FORM, you’ll want to download this free PDF as fast as humanly possible. While in Europe last summer, Veronica discovered this breathtaking “polyphonic enhancement” for the Lord’s Prayer. The congregation sings their part as normal, while the choir “weaves” SATB harmonies around them. My choir is definitely going to use this!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • Sunday (17 Nov. 2024)

Download the Entrance Antiphon in English for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (17 November 2024). It’s in mode 6—which some consider the “mode of peace”—and mimics the authentic version in a splendid and gorgeous way. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, I attempted to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Liquescent Notes in the Official Edition

The official edition—the EDITIO VATICANA itself—is somewhat inconsistent when it comes to liquescent notes. If you wish to see a perfect “apples-to-apples” comparison, click here. Such “inconsistency” was not owing to ignorance on the part of Abbat Pothier: the manuscripts themselves are inconsistent when it comes to liquescent notes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Final Sundays after Pentecost

For those of us at a traditional Latin Mass, it’s that time of year when the sung propers for each Sunday repeat until the end of the liturgical year. What to do with the portion of your mid-week rehearsal that you normally devote to the next Sunday’s propers? I like to get a head start on propers for upcoming December feasts. We always sing Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 because she’s co-patroness of our diocese, and we sing a Rorate Mass in addition to Immaculate Conception. There’s also the first Sunday of Advent; it often follows Thanksgiving by a few days and we don’t rehearse on Thanksgiving. In short, there’s no reason to get bored at this time of year!

—Keven Smith

Parallel Fifths In Plainsong Accompaniment?

Parallel 5ths are forbidden in Baroque music and Classical music. However, plainsong accompaniment has its own rules and modal style. The great masters sometimes even wrote parallel sevenths! Instances of parallel fifths are too numerous to list in the Nova Organi Harmonia by the LEMMENSINSTITUUT. For example, consider this one. But one must possess a certain expertise to employ them properly. By the way, if you wish to see double parallel fifths, click here.

—Jeff Ostrowski