“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” • Original Setting in Latin for Two Voices
Many centuries ago, this was a “trope” (poetic extension) for a Responsory.
Jesus said to them: “I have come into this world so that a sentence may fall upon it, that those who are blind should see, and those who see should become blind. If you were blind, you would not be guilty. It is because you protest, ‘We can see clearly,’ that you cannot be rid of your guilt.”
A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He completed studies in Education and Musicology at the graduate level. Having worked as a church musician in Los Angeles for ten years, in 2024 he accepted a position as choirmaster for Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Michigan, where he resides with his wife and children. —Read full biography (with photographs).
Many centuries ago, this was a “trope” (poetic extension) for a Responsory.
If people only knew about this this website, they would be amazed. It is called the “snippets” index, and I could not live without it. We’ve tried everything we can think of to let people know about it—and we’ll keep trying—but even some of our most faithful readers don’t realize that hidden treasure!
During November, our parish sings hymns to Christ the King, All Saints, and the Faithful Departed.
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The month of November is dedicated to the souls in Purgatory.
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The brief little SATB piece, O Pater Sancte (PDF), has been requested by many. The full title is O Pater Sancte, Mitis Atque Pie (“Father most holy, gracious and forgiving”). The melody occurs many times in the The Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal—including on page 724 with a fabulous translation by Monsignor Knox. The tune […]
Cardinal Antonelli: “I have the impression that much has been conceded to the Protestant mentality, especially in matters regarding the sacraments.”
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A USCCB statement: singing psalms at Mass “may create problems” … ?
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Including more information about the “Pope Pius XII Hymnal.”
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No sane person would claim that tunes by Marty Haugen, David Haas, or Rory Cooney constitute polyphony.
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When I’m sick with a cold, my hearing becomes clogged and I can’t hear properly—which is a choirmaster’s worst nightmare.
Mr. Daniel Craig, an accountant, comes from a musical family. His sister is a nun, and his brother is currently a seminarian. He has put together a detailed comparison of fifteen traditional Catholic hymnals. Many PDF files are included. Click here to view the article.
“We pray for the animals here in our midst | who cannot defend their own right to exist.”
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John Newton—who wrote “Amazing Grace”—was a slave trader, but ended up being caught and made a slave himself!
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Early in his pontificate, Pope Francis insisted that others correct him “when he gets off course…”
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The USCCB has completely deleted a section of their website which (before they deleted it) contained helpful resources for the classical Roman Rite. Something cool they had included (before they deleted it) was a link to the new prefaces, approved by Pope Francis on 25 March 2020. Will this madness never end?
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