Views from the Choir Loft

(Chicago) • Upcoming Sacred Music Workshop!

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 11, 2024

AINT GREGORY’S HALL in Chicago, Illinois, has announced a Gregorian Chant workshop. The presenters—KEVIN ALLEN and JEFFREY OSTROWSKI—will be familiar to those who read our articles. This day-long workshop will take place on Tuesday, 3 September 2024 beginning at 9:00AM and concluding with a special choral Mass for the Feast of Saint Gregory the Great. Participants in this workshop will learn: (a) How to read Gregorian Chant notation; (b) History and spirituality of plainchant in the liturgy; (c) Tips for introducing chant to your parish choir.

Brief Overview • Interested in practical tips for introducing Gregorian chant into your choir on Sundays? Curious about the history and development of the ancient tradition of chant? Always wanted to try chant but not sure where to start? The Catholic Church teaches that Gregorian chant should be given “first place” in the Roman Liturgy (CCC, 116) yet it’s rarely heard in Catholic parishes today. Expressing the spiritual and theological richness of our faith, this ancient tradition brings a stunning beauty (and prayerful atmosphere) to the liturgy.

Participants will conclude by
singing alongside Saint Gregory’s
professional choir at a choral Mass
for the feast of Gregory the Great.

Click here for details.

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

“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

“Corn” From Heaven?

The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scriptures was produced by Roman Catholics in England and bears a 15 March 1958 IMPRIMATUR from the Archbishop of Westminster. Its IMPRIMI POTEST was given by the director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Sometimes words chosen by translators sound funny to American ears. For instance, one of our Responsorial Psalms has as its refrain: “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.” But the British version has “The Lord gave them corn from heaven.” Feel free to examine this with your own eyes. (It comes from Psalm 77.)

—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