Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Sanctus For Two Voices”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 1, 2019

ENTION HAS BEEN MADE in the past of an “in house” collection from France (or possibly Quebec) which I came across while I was a graduate student in musicology at the University of Kansas. It is missing the first 50+ pages, but seems to be designed for use in cathedrals. I have had occasion to transcribe pieces from this book in the past—since it uses archaic clefs and was written by hand, not printed—and someday I’d like to transcribe the entire book. ¹

I have transcribed a very interesting SANCTUS by Jules Couture (d. 1959), where the ladies sing one voice and the men sing the other voice:

* * PDF Download • “Sanctus for Two Voices” (Men + Women)

EQUAL VOICES : YouTube • Mp3 Labeled

LADIES : YouTube • Mp3 Labeled

GENTLEMEN : YouTube • Mp3 Labeled

Try this piece! Your choir will love it. Furthermore, the composer does cool things with the voices; e.g. carefully compare the two (2) HOSANNA sections.

A GOOD CHOIRMASTER soon discovers a crucial reality: Easy music often comes off better than complicated music. That’s because simpler music allows the choir to master the musical phrasing, vowels, rhythm, and intonation. The fact that a piece such as this Couture SANCTUS was considered suitable for cathedral use corresponds to what was said in a document promulgated by Pope Pius XII on 3 September 1958:

“In general, it is better to do something well, however modest, than to attempt something on a grander scale if proper means are lacking.”

The source of that quote—as well as other interesting Church regulations—are here:

* * Article • Jimmy Stewart & Church Music Regulations?

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 Unless I am wrong, it was created as a lithograph. I am told many such “in house” publications exist in France, some of which date from times when the Church was being persecuted by the French government: for example, circa 1905, when persecutory laws were enacted.

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).

“Music List” • Midnight Mass (Christmas)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the “ORDER OF MUSIC” we followed for our Christmas Midnight Mass. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The English version of “In Splendóribus” we’re singing for the COMMUNION CHANT is short but striking.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Silent Night” • Easy Organ Arrangement

Here’s an organ accompaniment (PDF) in three different key signatures: MIDDLE, HIGH, and LOW. The Latin lyrics (“Silens Nox”) are courtesy of Father Valentine Young, OFM (d. 2020). The organ harmonies are very simple, yet beautiful. Those who desire such a thing may also download a Singer’s Version. Choirs will ‘pick up’ this piece up with minimal rehearsal time. Here’s a live recording from Midnight Mass from a few years ago: LIVE RECORDING.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Chart For Each Mode”

On 13 December, Dr. Weaver posted an article about the EIGHT CHURCH MODES. I thought it might be helpful to create this mode chart (PDF) which gives the various names for each mode of Gregorian Chant. If you notice any errors, please let me know!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Lessons and Carols”

Seen online! Dr. Samuel Backman conducted a “Lessons and Carols” service with his choir, and someone produced this lovely vignette.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Epiphany Proclamation 2025

Each year, without fail, someone asks me to typeset the Epiphany Proclamation, an announcement of moveable feasts chanted each year on the feast of the Epiphany. As a result, you may now find an archive of 23 such proclamations in PDF ready to print HERE.

—Veronica Brandt

The Breviary in the Life of the Laity

Recently I have been enjoying looking through the inaugural (1927) edition of a 20th-century liturgical magazine called Orate Fratres. The July 1927 issue included an excellent article by a Chicago laywoman named Ellen Gates Starr entitled “The Delights of the Breviary: From the Point of View of a Lay Woman.” As we in the 21st century have recently undergone a (blessed!) re-translation of the missal into English, and as we await with joyful hope (please God, before Jesus comes back!) a similar re-translation of the breviary, the opening of her article reminded me of that old saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Nearly a hundred years ago, she penned words that could just as easily have been written today: “It is indeed a privilege to be allowed any participation, however slight, in the liturgical movement in the Church – the movement to bring back the classics of devotion, the Missal and the Breviary, into general use by the laity. The wonder is that they should ever have fallen into disuse. Nothing can take the place of these great universal prayers of the Church, the prayers of the Mass and the divine Office. One has only to know them to find them indispensable. And alas, how few of the laity know them!” I know that I have been tremendously nourished by regular praying of the breviary as of late, and my wish is that you and I, dear reader, may continue to nourish our interior lives with the official prayer of the Church, which present to us (in the Mass) and extend (in the Office) the fullness of Christ’s greatest gift to us – the gift of Himself – in the Most Holy Eucharist.

—Daniel Tucker