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Corpus Christi Watershed

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

Articles

Guest Author · April 6, 2016

Musical and Liturgical Life at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center

Praising our Extraordinary God in the Ordinary Form

Jeff Ostrowski · April 6, 2016

“I confess that I was a liturgical nut” says Bishop consecrated by Pope Paul VI

“The liturgy is not only worship of God; it is the way we are formed in our faith.” —Bishop Gracida

Dr. Lucas Tappan · April 5, 2016

A Musically Model Parish

I thought I would share some visioning ideas regarding music in the Ordinary Form parish.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 5, 2016

We Need Assistance! Please Help Watershed Survive!

My 5-part series requesting donations seems to have failed miserably—with a few notable exceptions.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 5, 2016

Mass Propers • Fascinating Articles From 1924

Editors of “The Tablet” felt these essays were horrendous!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 4, 2016

Ward Method Studies • Space Available!

The chant must be sung lightly, and not too slowly.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 4, 2016

“Hymn To The Blessed Virgin Mary” • Caswall & Parry

Choirs not yet ready for SATB hymn singing will love this version for two voices!

Fr. David Friel · April 3, 2016

Which Masses Would You Choose?

If you had the opportunity to add more festive music to selected feasts in the liturgical year, to which would you give preference?

Jeff Ostrowski · April 3, 2016

Musical Resources • Low Sunday (1962 Missal)

“In the day of My resurrection, saith the Lord, I will go before you into Galilee…”

Richard J. Clark · April 1, 2016

O Happy Fault • Nine things that are pure privilege

Such a reference to original sin—a positive reference—seems quite strange to us.

Andrew Leung · April 1, 2016

The Chapel Royal Solemn Vespers is Available on BBC

A recording of the Solemn Vespers at the Chapel Royal is now available on BBC’s website.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 31, 2016

Mother Angelica • “60 Minutes” (1984)

This video shows Mother Angelica playing the drums at Mass! (Not kidding!)

Richard J. Clark · March 31, 2016

Sequence During the Octave of Easter

Singing the sequence, “Victimae Paschali Laudes” is truly appropriate every day this week.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 31, 2016

Bishop Doerfler’s Stunning Church Music Letter

“All parishes and schools are to have implemented the following directives by December 31, 2020.” —Bishop Doerfler.

Andrew Leung · March 31, 2016

Promoting a Good Choral Culture at Your Parish

Nothing is impossible with God, everyone can promote a good choral culture at their parish.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • (Palm Sunday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Palm Sunday—a.k.a. “Dominica in palmis de Passione Domini”—which is 29 March 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The OFFERTORY (Impropérium exspectávit cor meum) is quite moving. Even though the COMMUNION ANTIPHON is relatively simple, the Fauxbourdon makes it sound outstanding.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Easter • Would You Sing This Hymn?
    He who examines Laudes Dei: a hymnal for Catholic congregations (St. Louis, 1894) will discover this pairing of a hymn for Easter. For the record, this isn’t the only Catholic hymn book to marry that text and melody; e.g. Saint Mark’s Hymnal for Use in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States (Peoria, 1910) does the same thing. Sometimes an unexpected pairing—chosen with sensitivity—can be superb, forcing singers to experience the text in a ‘fresh’ and wonderful way. On the other hand, we sometimes encounter something I’ve called “PERNICIOUS HYMN PAIRINGS.” If you find the subject in intriguing, feel free to peruse an article I published in May of 2023. As always, my email inbox is open if you have a bone to pick with my take.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
    In 2003, I copied a book by Félix Bélédin (d. 1895), who was titular organist—from 1841 to 1874—at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Lyon (France). In 2008, we scanned and uploaded the book to the Lalande Online Library. Nobody knows for sure when the book was published; some believe it first appeared in the 1840s. In any event, one who examines this excerpt, showing GLORIA IX might wonder why it says the organ answers in plainsong. However, the front of the book explains, telling the organist explicitly when to “respond in plainchant.” This is something called organ alternatim. Believe it or not, the pipe organ would take turns with the choir, playing certain texts instrumentally instead of having them sung. I’m not very well-versed in this—pardon the pun—but if memory serves, ORGAN ALTERNATIM was frowned upon by the time of Pope Saint Pius X. Nevertheless, French organists kept doing it, even after it was explicitly condemned as an abuse.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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

Random Quote

Taking into account the “barrenness of the times” and the fact that Father Francisco Guerrero is scarcely able to feed his choirboys, the chapter decides (by a close vote) to give him money to buy new robes, surplices, and caps for his six young charges.

— Resolution: 14 February 1562

Recent Posts

  • Music List • (Palm Sunday, 2026)
  • Easter • Would You Sing This Hymn?
  • “Priest Saying Mass” • Medieval Illumination
  • From Sentiment to Sacrament: Reclaiming Sacred Music for the Wedding Mass
  • Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?

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