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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

“Reader Feedback” • 19 November 2024

Jeff Ostrowski · November 19, 2024

The following came from Beatrice O.
[We usually redact names for anonymity’s sake.]

EAR CCW TEAM: Good morning, I hope this email finds you well. My name is [redacted], and I’m currently gathering materials for a newly ordained priest. Your website has been an invaluable resource in finding materials for singing the Holy Mass in Latin. Thank you for the excellent work you do in preserving and promoting this sacred tradition. For some weeks now, I’ve been searching for musical scores of the Canon Missae in Cantu (“Eucharistic Prayer I”), but unfortunately, I haven’t been able to locate them. I have consulted sources such as GREGOBASE and several PDFs of the GRADUALE ROMANUM, but without success. I’m reaching out in the hope that you might know where I could find these scores. It would mean a great deal to provide this as a gift to my priest friend. Thank you in advance for your assistance, and I greatly appreciate the work you continue to do.

The following is Jeff Ostrowski’s response:
[This response was posted on 19 November 2024.]

The Answer • Beginning on page 1915 of Volume 1 of the special PDF files we posted in 2013, you will find what you seek. Indeed, all four Eucharistic prayers are given there in musical notation.

Jeff’s (Unsolicited) Opinion • That being said, it might be important to remember that it’s quite “untraditional” to sing the Eucharistic Prayer. Throughout the entire history of the Catholic Church this was never done—until the 1970s. Indeed, the person responsible for all the liturgical reforms of the 1960s (viz. CARDINAL LERCARO) declared in a public letter dated 2 March 1965 that priests who pray the Eucharistic Prayer in an audible voice commit an extremely grave liturgical abuse. For many centuries, the Canon was said in a quiet voice: sotto voce. (Cardinal Lercaro was put in charge of all the liturgical reforms by Pope Saint Paul VI.) The 1970s was very much a liturgical low point; the order of the day was “change for the sake of change.” Someday, all this will have to be sorted out.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro Consilium President, CCWatershed Feedback, Reader Feedback Corpus Christi Watershed Last Updated: November 19, 2024

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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

    “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

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

Agnes De Mille: “When I see my work, I take for granted what other people value in it. I see only its ineptitude, inorganic flaws, and crudities. I am not pleased or satisfied.” — Martha Graham: “No artist is pleased.” ADM: “But then there is no satisfaction?” — MG: “No satisfaction whatever at any time,” she cried out passionately. “There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

— “Martha Graham on the Life-Force of Creativity”

Recent Posts

  • Installment #3 • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”
  • “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
  • “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • “Corn” From Heaven?
  • Gospel Acclamation Verses … Nowhere Assigned?

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