Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Accompaniment • “Jesu Redemptor Omnium”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 30, 2019

HOSE WHO ATTENDED the very first Sacred Music Symposium will remember how the entire thing was based upon a particular hymn melody. These days, the melody (“Jesu Redemptor Omnium”) is normally associated with the Christmas season. However, anyone who has studied the color pages section of the Brébeuf hymnal will realize the actual history of this hymn tune is more complicated. Indeed, the plainsong melody was used for the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity (in Guerrero’s time), as well as for Christmas, Epiphany, the Feast of All Saints (November 1st), and several other feasts. Click here to see the melody used for Salutis Aeterne Dator. Or, you can see how it looks when this melody is used for Exsultet Orbis Gaudiis. We sang this hymn for Vespers yesterday—the entire congregation—and it was marvelous. Nonetheless, I wasn’t quite happy with the NOH harmonization, so I took the liberty of creating my own:

* * PDF Download • “Jesu Redemptor” (Organ Accompaniment)

You can compare my accompaniment to that found in the NOH:

80485-jesu-redemptor-omnium

You can also compare it to an accompaniment by Achille P. Bragers:

80487-Jesu-Redemptor-Omnium

You can also compare it to an accompaniment by the famous Gregorianist, Dr. Peter Wagner, who studied with Father Michael Hermesdorff at the Cathedral school in Trier:

80484-Peter-Wagner

Let’s do one more. This is from the “Laudate Catholic Hymnal,” published in Kansas in the 1940s:

80483 Laudate Catholic Hymns

The Brébeuf hymnal contains more information about this ancient Catholic hymn (“Jesu Redemptor Omnium”) than any other hymnal—so much info! For more information, cf. pages 278-279 of the Brébeuf pew edition.

Bonus Question:

Can you see what Bragers did here?

80478 CONTRAFACTUM BRAGERS

(Those familiar with “common melodies” in the Brébeuf hymnal will not be surprised by this!)

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).

PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”

Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Sarum’ Good Friday?

Plainsong of the Roman Rite has many variants—i.e. slight ‘variations’ or ‘alterations’ made to the ancient melodies. Variants often thrive in particular religious orders. Likewise, before Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, Gregorian Chant variants were frequently associated with individual cathedrals in England: Hereford, Lincoln, Salisbury, and so forth. In the early 20th century, the (Anglican) organist at Westminster Abbey married “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” to this beautiful variant melody from England. Those who sing Gregorian Chant on Good Friday will recognize the melody. What do you think of this pairing?

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”

Gustav Adolf Merkel (d. 1885) was a German organist, teacher, and composer. Although a Lutheran himself, he held the appointment at the (Roman Catholic) Cathedral of Dresden from 1864 until his death. You can download his Organ Postlude in E-Flat, which I like very much. He has an interesting way of marking the pedal notes. What do you think?

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026

How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”

For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.

—Jeff Ostrowski