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Corpus Christi Watershed

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Views from the Choir Loft

Francisco Guerrero Composer

Jeff Ostrowski · June 13, 2025

Luis Martínez Must Go!

This notice shows that in Seville, as elsewhere, polyphonic singers clustered around a large open choirbook set on a stand in the middle of the grilled choir-enclosure.

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 28, 2025

Re: “Abuse of Catholic Church Musicians”

Listening to yourself singing isn’t fun—but it’s crucial if you wish to improve.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 27, 2023

(Not Kidding) • Does Singing for Mass Fulfill One’s Obligation to Attend Mass?

Jeff Ostrowski provides five (5) responses to an assertion made by a priest.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2023

PDF Download • “Glory To God” for Congregation & Choir (Mass of Saint Noël Chabanel)

My setting begins with the entire congregation singing—but the middle section is SATB polyphony.

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2023

Church Music Shouldn’t Be “Headache-Inducing”

Authentic sacred music should attract people. It should not drive them away.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2022

PDF Download • Brief Polyphonic “Asperges Me” for SATB by Father Guerrero (d. 1599)

Here’s my attempt at recording all the voices myself, to give you a rough idea how it sounds.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 9, 2022

“Defending the English” • Brief Riposte from Uganda

“As for the subject of whether the music of Tallis, Taverner, and Tye was tainted by the reformation, I would agree with Mr. Ostrowski.” —Reader from Uganda

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 20, 2022

“New Section 2” • (Piecemeal Agnus Dei)

A wonderful way to get volunteers singing SATB polyphony immediately!

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 11, 2022

Composing Your Own Antiphons?

In the days before Vatican II, dioceses had their own special feast days.

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Jeff Ostrowski · May 21, 2022

PDF Download • “A Canon Choirs Love!”

You will notice Father Guerrero takes the chant melody (“Beata Mater”) and creates a perfect canon between Soprano and Alto.

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Corpus Christi Watershed · May 3, 2022

“Repertoire Page” • Sacred Music Symposium 2022

Sign up today! A few voice parts still have openings.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 21, 2021

“Benedictus” (Missa Iste Sanctus) • All voices recorded by Corrinne May

Vatican II said: “The treasury of sacred music is to be preserved and fostered with great care” (SC §114).

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2021

Missa “My Little Pony” by Dan Schutte • Its Pedigree

A USCCB statement: singing psalms at Mass “may create problems” … ?

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Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · October 13, 2021

Seven Solutions • “Getting Catholics Singing Again”

At the conservatory, we’re surrounded by hundreds of professional musicians; but stepping into a Catholic parish the situation is quite different.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 24, 2021

“Easy Polyphonic Agnus Dei” • Part 3 of 3

The ability of your singers to sight-read music instantly does not guarantee a good performance.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn
    The Church’s oldest Latin Eucharistic hymn is featured in the Brébeuf Hymnal. Indeed, the legendary Father Adrian Fortescue made a translation of it—matching the original’s meter—which was elevated by the Brébeuf team. For years, we’ve been working on a Spanish hymnal: “Cantoral del Padre Antonio Daniel.” The progress has been slow but steady, and we encourage anyone fluent in Spanish to consider joining the proofreading team. A few days ago, my wife helped me record a rehearsal video for this Spanish version of the Church’s oldest Latin Eucharistic hymn.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Rare Plainsong Accompaniments
    Our contributor, Veronica Brandt, went deep into Australia to take photographs of organ accompaniments for Gregorian Chant. Some consider these peculiar PLAINSONG ACCOMPANIMENTS—with 3-part harmonies by Barcelona Cathedral organist, Father Josep Muset i Ferrer—to be the rarest in the world. Click here to learn more. Thanks Veronica! 😊
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Hidden Chant” • For the Ordinary Form

    Not even the magnificent “GregoBase”—which is incredibly comprehensive—realizes music for this antiphon was published by the Vatican in the 1930s.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Reader Feedback” • 22 June 2026
    A reader wrote to us from Virginia: “I really appreciate the 23 harmonizations that you posted on CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED for the Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary hymn. I hope to find willing voices in our small Schola Cantorum to try the three-voice version. Carry on, sir! You’re doing the Lord’s work.” While we don’t know this gentleman personally, we note that he earned a Ph.D. (which demonstrates that our blog has something for everybody). 😊
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Time and Again We Are Asked…
    John Baptist Singenberger (d. 1924) was a central figure of Catholic Church music. In this utterly fascinating excerpt (Single-Page PDF), Singenberger writes: Time and again we are asked: “Is the Gregorian chant to be accompanied by the organ?” As a young student in Saint Gall, Singenberger befriended SEBASTIAN GEBHARD MESSMER, the future Archbishop of Milwaukee (Wisconsin). The two graduated together in 1861. The school they attended (Saint George’s Seminary) was a “seminary”—but in the older European sense. In other words, it provided a classical education without necessarily leading to ordination. Singenberger remained a layman his whole life, but Messmer was eventually made archbishop—by Pope Saint Pius X—of the very archdiocese in Wisconsin where Singenberger would spend his American career, giving him a powerful ecclesiastical ally.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of June (2026)
    On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). Since we were founded in 2006, not one of our board members has ever accepted any remuneration whatsoever—not a penny. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

After ordering the bishops to appoint in each diocese “special commission of persons who are really competent in the matter, to whom they will entrust the duty of watching over the music performed in the churches in whatever way may seem most advisable,” Pope Pius X continues—“this commission will insist on the music being not only good in itself, but also proportionate to the capacity of the singers, so that it may be always well executed.”

— Dom Alphege Shebbeare (Downside Review)

Recent Posts

  • Two Ways to Defile a Hymn • (And How Not To)
  • “Reader Feedback” • 22 June 2026
  • These Photographs Are Utterly Astounding !
  • Public Criticism of Jeff Ostrowski’s Singing Voice • Also: “Dich König loben wir”
  • Oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn

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