Views from the Choir Loft

Catholic Wedding Nuptial Mass Music

Corpus Christi Watershed · April 29, 2024

“Reader Feedback” • 29 April 2024

“No musician in our parish (and probably our archdiocese) is paid, despite the many hours we put in.” —Charlotte M.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 19, 2024

PDF Download • “Wedding Sheet” (Showing Prices)

Being hired as organist or choirmaster for Catholic weddings can be stressful.

Fr. David Friel · September 8, 2019

PDF Download • Chant Notation—Nuptial Blessing (EF)

With permission from the CDF, the nuptial blessing at a sung EF Mass may be chanted according to this melody.

Richard J. Clark · January 13, 2017

Nuptial Blessings • Practice Videos • Order of Celebrating Matrimony

Fr. Gaspar eloquently emphasis key words and phrases, underscoring the beauty of the sacrament.

Fr. David Friel · March 13, 2016

The Rite of Marriage, Second Edition

The release date has been set. What will be new in the new Rite of Marriage?

Richard J. Clark · June 19, 2015

Bigger Fish to Fry

Weddings, with all of their challenges offer an important chance to evangelize. God calls us to be fishers of women and men. That’s the most important catch of all.

Fr. David Friel · October 26, 2014

Only the Lover Sings

The South Philly Tradition of the Wedding Serenade

Andrew R. Motyka · August 27, 2014

Weddings: Some Practical Advice – The Very Beginning, Part 1

Some thoughts on the Introductory Rites for the Nuptial Mass.

Andrew R. Motyka · August 20, 2014

Weddings: Some Practical Advice – Introduction

A curmudgeonly introduction to a series on wedding advice.

“Silent Night” • Easy Organ Arrangement

Here’s an organ accompaniment (PDF) in three different key signatures: MIDDLE, HIGH, and LOW. The Latin lyrics (“Silens Nox”) are courtesy of Father Valentine Young, OFM (d. 2020). The organ harmonies are very simple, yet beautiful. Those who desire such a thing may also download a Singer’s Version. Choirs will ‘pick up’ this piece up with minimal rehearsal time. Here’s a live recording from Midnight Mass from a few years ago: LIVE RECORDING.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Chart For Each Mode”

On 13 December, Dr. Weaver posted an article about the EIGHT CHURCH MODES. I thought it might be helpful to create this mode chart (PDF) which gives the various names for each mode of Gregorian Chant. If you notice any errors, please let me know!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Year’s End Appeal • “Asking for Help”

We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment; we have no major donors; we run no advertisements; we have no savings. As 2024 comes to a close, we could really use your financial support—especially if you have never donated before. Click here to securely donate with any major credit card. Thank you very much!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Lessons and Carols”

Seen online! Dr. Samuel Backman conducted a “Lessons and Carols” service with his choir, and someone produced this lovely vignette.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Epiphany Proclamation 2025

Each year, without fail, someone asks me to typeset the Epiphany Proclamation, an announcement of moveable feasts chanted each year on the feast of the Epiphany. As a result, you may now find an archive of 23 such proclamations in PDF ready to print HERE.

—Veronica Brandt

The Breviary in the Life of the Laity

Recently I have been enjoying looking through the inaugural (1927) edition of a 20th-century liturgical magazine called Orate Fratres. The July 1927 issue included an excellent article by a Chicago laywoman named Ellen Gates Starr entitled “The Delights of the Breviary: From the Point of View of a Lay Woman.” As we in the 21st century have recently undergone a (blessed!) re-translation of the missal into English, and as we await with joyful hope (please God, before Jesus comes back!) a similar re-translation of the breviary, the opening of her article reminded me of that old saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Nearly a hundred years ago, she penned words that could just as easily have been written today: “It is indeed a privilege to be allowed any participation, however slight, in the liturgical movement in the Church – the movement to bring back the classics of devotion, the Missal and the Breviary, into general use by the laity. The wonder is that they should ever have fallen into disuse. Nothing can take the place of these great universal prayers of the Church, the prayers of the Mass and the divine Office. One has only to know them to find them indispensable. And alas, how few of the laity know them!” I know that I have been tremendously nourished by regular praying of the breviary as of late, and my wish is that you and I, dear reader, may continue to nourish our interior lives with the official prayer of the Church, which present to us (in the Mass) and extend (in the Office) the fullness of Christ’s greatest gift to us – the gift of Himself – in the Most Holy Eucharist.

—Daniel Tucker