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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Choirmaster’s Life: “A Life of Sacrifice”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 10, 2016

779 Sperabo HE LIFE of a choirmaster is a life of sacrifice. Indeed, directing a choir is one of the most difficult jobs—and our readers hardly require an explanation from me, since many share this vocation! However, if we look deeper, we realize this is actually a good thing.

For example, it was necessary for me to work very hard to put myself through college. I had earned scholarships, but there were additional requirements for those who received them. Looking back, I’m so glad I applied myself to the fullest—but would I have done so if it weren’t required?

Those of us with small children know how difficult this can be. The fact that I have been suffering due to a serious illness (in spite of many expensive medical procedures) makes things even harder. Sometimes my wife and I get so overwhelmed we just stare at each other: “Is this really happening right now?” Yet, God always has a plan. He knows these trials will bring us closer to Him, so we can be with Him in Heaven one day. Let’s be honest—would anyone choose the difficulties associated with raising children if they were given another option?

Due to human nature, I believe most of us wouldn’t reach our potential unless we have to. 1

AS A CHOIRMASTER, nothing would be easier than having twenty paid professional singers present each week. I’ve done that in the past, and it’s really awesome. On the other hand, working with volunteers is quite challenging. You must work very hard—or they stop coming. You must introduce new music—or they stop coming. You must not overwhelm them—or they stop coming. You must accept their quirks—or they stop coming. You must make sure the level of performance is acceptable and doesn’t sound horrible—or they stop coming. You must be flexible, adjusting to their needs as they are revealed to you—or they stop coming. You must be energetic and happy, bursting with energy and knowledge and excitement—or they stop coming.

But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

These challenges force us to become better at what we do. As I mentioned earlier, most of us would not push ourselves—unless we have to. Most importantly of all, these efforts please God.

And when the choir sings well, it’s all worth it. And when you see the transformation in people who have learned so much from your directing, it’s totally worth it!



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   If you examine the great composers, you will notice that—almost without exception—they wrote their best works out of necessity. They often had an urgent purpose: compose this piece, or you don’t eat! We hardly ever find composers “going off into a corner” and composing a piece without an immediate purpose in mind. Performers are the same way. When Horowitz had very little money, he reached the zenith of his career. After he became extremely famous and rich, his playing suffered tremendously. (The drugs didn’t help matters, either!) Horowitz could sit in his pajamas all day if he desired—and often did—and this was his undoing.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Except the psalms or canonical Scriptures of the new and old Testaments, nothing composed poetically shall be sung in church, as the holy canons command.”

— ‘Council of Braga, 563AD’

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