Culmen et Fons

Jeff Ostrowski · February 18, 2025

“Reform of the Reform” • Is It Dead or Alive?

In spite of what some claim, the “Reform of the Reform” isn’t dead.

Many have requested a file containing all the different tones used on the Father Noël Chabanel website. I finally found time to assemble all of them into a single PDF file (which is 3 pages long). If this interests you, feel free to download the PDF score.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • 7th Sunday (Ord. Time)

You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (23 February 2025). Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. This English adaptation uses mode 5, as does the authentic Gregorian Chant version, which formerly was used in a rather surprising place (viz. the 1st Sunday after Pentecost). If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I attempted to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reader Feedback” • 11 February 2025

A priest in Washington D.C. sent us the following message: “Your Psalm tones and harmonizations are both accessible yet subtly brilliant. I am so grateful for how you have improved the quality of my parish’s liturgy.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum

Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.

—Daniel Tucker

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).

—Corpus Christi Watershed

The Lofty Nature of This Goal

It is important above all that we never lose sight of our true goal as church musicians: the right worship of Almighty God. This is not a pious sentiment that should cause us to be lax about technical elements of music. Rather, the lofty nature of this goal is should motivate and inspire us to pursue the techne of musicianship with even greater zeal.

—Dr. Samuel Backman