Views from the Choir Loft

My New Assignment—Part 1

Andrew Leung · September 24, 2015

AM VERY SAD—but happy at the same time—to announce that I am leaving my current position at St. Pius X Catholic Church, here in Conyers, Georgia. Recently, I started the seminarian application process with the Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio and have been assigned by His Excellency, Bishop Jeffrey Monforton (Steubenville’s Ordinary) to BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH in Wintersville, OH, where I will be doing a pastoral year and continue my discernment “full-time”. If it is God’s will, I will be entering the seminary to study next fall.

I have been serving Mass and involved in church music for over ten years now. I have always loved the Liturgy of the Roman Rite. For the past five years, I’ve been singing for the Extraordinary Form Mass and have witnessed—so many times—priests falling in love with the Liturgy after High Masses. They have always described it as an “incredible,” prayerful, and peaceful experience. Please pray for me as I continue to discern my vocation to the priesthood and hopefully, by the grace of God, I can celebrate the Holy Mass one day. I hope to continue being involved in Sacred Music, even though I won’t be serving as a music director. I will do my best to keep contributing to this blog regularly.

NE THING I am definitely going to miss about Conyers is the Monastery. I have been teaching Gregorian Chant to a group of Cistercian monks who are very passionate in rediscovering their musical tradition. This past year, we have explored basic vocal techniques, Solfège, and authentic interpretation of Gregorian Chant. I was also asked to teach a GREGORIAN CHANT APPRECIATION course to the novices over the summer. I had the last class with the monks yesterday and we had a great chant rehearsal. They definitely learned and grew tremendously this year. Below is a recording of the Terribilis est locus iste (Introit for the Anniversary of the Dedication of a church) from the rehearsal yesterday:

* * Mp3 Audio • TERRIBILIS EST LOCUS by Cistercian Monks

When I first got here, all they knew was simplified chant in English. This is what they have accomplished in a year, despite the quality of my phone recorder.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

About Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

Responsorial Psalm Fauxbourdon?

When it comes to singing Responsorial Psalms in Fauxbourdon, what does this sound like in practice? Can such a thing be done successfully with volunteer choirs in real Catholic parishes? Listen to this audio excerpt from Good Friday and see what you think. Our parish volunteer choir did so well this year—and the ceremonies were ‘standing room only’. For the record, that musical score can be downloaded (completely free of charge) from the flourishing feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (Easter Sunday, 2026)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Easter Sunday—a.k.a. “Ad Missam in die Paschae”—which is 5 April 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The Fauxbourdon for Communion is particularly moving.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”

Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)

On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“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