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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

“OCP” (Oregon Catholic Press) Forbids Organ Improvisation! • Screenshot Provided

Jeff Ostrowski · August 17, 2023

HAVE AN ENTIRE file in my drawer labelled “OCP.” I’m referring to OREGON CATHOLIC PRESS, originally known as “The Catholic Truth Society of Oregon.” This file contains a number of items from the last decade or so—items such as screenshots and letters—which chronicle behavior by the leaders of their organization which is reprehensible, dishonest, and (at least as far as I’m concerned) unforgivable. I have never felt called by God to release any of this information. I’m too busy with other tasks. Our organization attempts to provide positive solutions; we try to avoid dwelling on evil. However, this afternoon I was sent a message which almost tempts me to release some of my file. Who knows? Maybe someday I will.

No Organ Improvisation? • Just because something is legal, that doesn’t make it morally permissible. Indeed, the United States of America has legalized many acts which are (objectively speaking) gravely sinful. Contrariwise, just because something is illegal doesn’t necessarily mean it’s morally wrong. For example, the current laws of copyright in the United States—depending on certain factors too complicated to explain in this blog article—have the result that a short melody could be legally “under copyright” for something like 150 years. That’s what the law says, but such a law is immoral. Moreover, it’s unenforceable. Indeed, such a notion is a farce, and has nothing to do with what copyright was originally supposed to protect (for a reasonable period of time).

Forbidding Organ Improvisation? • Can you imagine a publishing company attempting to intrude into individual churches to prevent the organist from improvising on melodies during Mass? Believe it or not, OREGON CATHOLIC PRESS recently did precisely that:

*  SCREENSHOT • (OCP forbids organ improvisation)

Here’s a transcript of the message from OCP, dated 17 August 2023:

Hello, thank you for speaking with me today. To go over the copyright laws (when it comes to improvisation in the church) you are not allowed to change the melody without our approval. You will need to submit a copy of the music changes to OCP. I will have my editor review and accept the changes. You can submit a copy to my email. For improvisation, you can change keys or adapt the original melody, but you are not allowed to change the melody without our approval first. You can submit the live-streaming usage under your One License podcast/streaming license. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions.

OCP Takes My Breath Away • The hubris on the part of OCP is breathtaking. Perhaps they’re trying to take advantage of the fact that many musicians are ignorant about copyright laws. Indeed, certain internet forums and blogs spew forth disinformation on a daily basis about copyright—and such authors have much to answer for. Being ignorant about certain laws is one thing. Logging on to the internet and leading people into error is something else entirely.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Tagged With: OCP Forbids Organ Improvisation, Oregon Catholic Press Last Updated: August 17, 2023

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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).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly
    Using “Ye” vs. “You” is rather tricky, because it depends upon which era one is trying to recreate—if that makes any sense. In other words, the rules haven’t always been the same for these two. Nevertheless, Father Philip George Caraman (the legendary Jesuit scholar) gives us a masterclass using Saint Luke’s Gospel. Father Caraman was close friends with Monsignor Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, and Sir Alec Guinness.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
    My pastor asked me to write brief articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The most recent article speaks about the recent announcement by Pope Leo XIV, which does have an impact on church musicians. Scheduled for publication on 2025 08 10th, it’s called: “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
    All the chants for 3 August 2025—which is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)—have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (from the book of Wisdom) is stunning. That feast website has been called “the best kept secret of Church music.”
    —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

“Young people have entrusted me with their absolute preference for the Extraordinary Form… […] But, above all, how can we understand—how can we not be surprised and deeply shocked—that what was the rule yesterday is prohibited today? Is it not true that prohibiting or suspecting the Extraordinary Form can only be inspired by the demon who desires our suffocation and spiritual death?”

— Cardinal Sarah to Edward Pentin (23 September 2019)

Recent Posts

  • Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly
  • Installment #3 • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”
  • “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
  • “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • “Corn” From Heaven?

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