Views from the Choir Loft

11:00am Choir Page

Jeff Ostrowski · May 6, 2018

Our first rehearsal will be on Wednesday night, 27 January 2021, at 7:00pm at Saint Vitus.

The first Mass we sing is 31 January 2021, call time 10:30am.

The rest of the schedule:

* PDF Download • SCHEDULE for 11:00AM
—This shows February and March.

Learn “Kyrie IV” from the Père Daniel Website.

#88208 • “Non Nobis, Domine” (William Byrd Canon)

We will also learn a Hymn.

In the near future, we will learn a polyphonic Mass, and polyphonic pieces by Giovanni Maria Nanino (d. 1607).

Pieces to be working on for Saint Vitus in the (somewhat distant) future.

* PDF Download • Pieces to be studying
—This is for both the 9:00am and the 11:00am.

Upcoming Masses

31 January 2021 • SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY

Entrance Song:
Hymn #403 Rebus Creatis Nil Egens

INTROIT = Jeff + Anthony

KYRIE = Kyrie IV … rehearsal videos on Saint Antoine Daniel

GLORIA = There is no Gloria

Gradual + Tract = Mode iii psalm tone

Creed = Credo IV … rehearsal videos on Saint Antoine Daniel

Offertory = Mode 8 psalm tone • “Bonum est confiteri Domino”

Jeff will play organ at Offertory

Sanctus and Agnus Dei = Mass XI … rehearsal videos on Saint Antoine Daniel

Communion = #88208 • “Non Nobis, Domine” (William Byrd Canon)

Exit Song:
Hymn #411 Rebus Creatis Nil Egens • with ALTO AND SOPRANO

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

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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Dom Pothier • Photo from 1904

Dom Paul Cagin, in a 1904 publication (L’oeuvre de Solesmes dans la restauration du chant grégorien) made sure to include a beautiful image of Dom Pothier, the legendary abbot of St-Wandrille. Also shown is a very young Dom André Mocquereau. Auguste Pécoul—considered the spiritual “son” of Abbat Prosper Guéranger of Solesmes—wrote as follows on 24 June 1901: “To forestall any confusion, let us remember that there is just one Gregorian notation—that restored, according to the ancient manuscripts, by the eminent Abbot of Saint-Wandrille, Dom Pothier.” ✠

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)

I believe 99% of our readers will recognize this hymn tune. Perhaps Father Edgard De Laet should have called it a ‘hymn’ instead of a ‘motet for three voices’—but he’s technically correct, since MOTET is defined as: “a short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied.” The even verses are for three voices, as you will see if you download the PDF score at #20245. The odd verses may be song a cappella SATB or unison with organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of January (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). 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. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski