Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for July 2017

Jeff Ostrowski · July 31, 2017

Major Typo • This Sunday’s Introit

Can you spot the error?

Fr. David Friel · July 30, 2017

Pastoral Care of Persons with Disabilites

Catholics with disabilities have a right to participate in the sacraments as fully as other members of the local ecclesial community.

Richard J. Clark · July 28, 2017

The “Charism” of Saying “No”

The ability to say “no” is an important gift of which much good can come, if used with wisdom, mercy, and kindness.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 27, 2017

How Is The “Kiss of Peace” Done Properly?

Do the Altar Servers receive the Kiss of Peace?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 27, 2017

Musical Resources • 8th Sunday after Pentecost

“We have received Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy temple…”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 26, 2017

Seven Rules for Church Music (Sir Richard Terry)

“Is plainsong really so dull and dry as some of our singers would have us believe?”

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 25, 2017

Video • FSSP Altar Server Training Camp

The FSSP seminarians exceeded all expectations!

Christopher Mueller · July 25, 2017

What really happened at the Convocation of Catholic Leaders

Beautiful liturgical music happened—in a hotel ballroom, no less!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 24, 2017

“Tu Es Petrus” • Commissioned for the Symposium

This piece by Kevin Allen is based on the plainsong Communion antiphon.

Fr. David Friel · July 23, 2017

Seven Rules for Writing Sermons

Guidance from Bl. John Henry Cardinal Newman

Andrew Leung · July 20, 2017

Recording • Choral Mattins with John Rutter

Here is some great church music coming from the Anglican Cathedral of Hong Kong

Jeff Ostrowski · July 19, 2017

“Mode 4” • How To Teach Your Choir

Did you notice the “ups and downs” were omitted? The choir will fill those in…

Guest Author · July 19, 2017

Palestrina and the Perfecting of the Medieval Ideal of Music as Rational • (Part 3 of 3)

We look to Mary to understand the “self reflection” of sacred polyphony.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 18, 2017

Video • Wilko Brouwers

Can anyone identify the composer of this piece?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 17, 2017

Organ Improvisation • Stupefyingly Awesome!

Does this constitute an organic development?

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Luis Martínez Must Go!

Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

—Jeff Ostrowski

Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!

A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!

—Jeff Ostrowski

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