Juanpablo Macias, a seminarian studying for the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, enjoys composing, singing, and playing organ for the sacred liturgy.
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An Important Anniversary
Dom Pothier died 100 years ago today.
(Advent, 2nd Sunday) • Introit “Pópulus Sion” Sung According to the Official Rhythm
We can hardly do better than to join in the same melodies sung by Catholic saints throughout history.
PDF Download • “Lo! He comes with clouds descending” (Advent Hymn) — A Catholic Version!
Some days, Fulton J. Sheen received as many as 30,000 letters.
Announcement of Easter & the Moveable Feasts • El Anuncio de la Pascua y Fiestas Movibles • 2024
English and Spanish — scores and practice videos in with dates for 2024!
Dr. Alexis Kutarna Shares Photographs of Texas Workshop With Composer Kevin Allen
Dr. Kutarna teaches liturgical music courses at the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, Texas.
Announcement of the Nativity of the Lord from the Roman Martyrology • Practice Video
Practice video for the Announcement of the Nativity of the Lord from the Roman Martyrology
1963 Photograph • Original Lyrics for Fr. Hellriegel’s “To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King”
Photograph from 1963, the year Monsignor Hellriegel published his 𝐻𝑜𝑙𝑦 𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝐻𝑦𝑚𝑛𝑎𝑙.
My Response to Dr. Weaver’s Latest Article
Is it fair to forever bind Dom Guéranger to what he wrote about “barbarous archaisms” in 1855?
Stumped by Psalms? Try This
St. Robert Bellarmine’s commentary will enlighten you and your singers.
PDF Download • “Eight Gregorian Psalm Tones” (Harmonized by Jeff Ostrowski)
Yesterday, I recorded a video demonstration of each Gregorian Chant tone.
Four (4) Excellent Hymns for Catholic Funerals
With a brief digression on certain “nasty” traditionalists.
“An Initiation to Gregorian Chant” (Msgr. Turco)
Guest article by Father Stephen Concordia, OSB.
Accent and Gregorian Melody
The idea of the tonic accent in Gregorian melody runs through the entire Solesmes tradition from Gontier to Pothier to Mocquereau to the present.
Bearing Witness
We Church musicians have a high calling to bear witness to the truth with our music and our lives.
Jeff Ostrowski’s Performance of Plainsong Attacked as “Inartistic”
The special Vigil of Christmas “Alleluia” sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
What We See Under the Big Top
For several years, due to the large number of Catholics who attend Mass at this parish, all celebrations have been held in a parking lot under a tent.
Pope Saint Paul VI did not outlaw the TLM
This video shows a signatory of the famous “Agatha Christie Indult” talking about Glenn Gould (specifically his Bach interpretations).
(14 Examples) • Jeff Ostrowski’s Artistic “Credo”
Including several hymns eminently suitable for the feast of Christ the King.
A Classic Example of Modal Modulation
We can think of the modes and their traditional characters in a dynamic way, and it can help us to have a little more shape and direction in our singing.
PDF Download • “Wedding March” (For The Lazy Organist)
This afternoon, it was suggested to me that I write down (“notate”) the arrangement I use.
Report • “Musical Shape of the Liturgy Conference”
This week I attended part of an excellent academic conference in honor of William Mahrt.
PDF • Draft Booklet “Couture Chant” (255 Pages)
This is very much a “work in progress”…
Cardinal Newman • “Hymn for Souls in Purgatory”
A way to avoid having the choir’s pitch sink. (Tag: 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳)
PDF Download • “Choral Warm-Up” by Jeff Ostrowski (after Morley)
The “SSS” technique, known by every great singer. (Tag: 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳)
PDF Downloads
Worst Hymn Pairing Of All Time?
Are there sickening examples of hymn pairings? Oh, most certainly!
PDF Download • “Hymn for the Feast of All Saints” (Released for the First Time in History!)
“Each day Father Knox would write for his students a Latin poem describing events of the previous day.” —Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Now Available Online! • 1959 “Organ Accompaniment Book” (233 Pages)
“Occasionally, the English texts for some of the hymns are almost barbaric artistically…” —𝐷𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑎 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 (1960)
“Breathtaking!” • Hymn for the Souls in Purgatory
“Raising the pitch for the final verse.” (Tag: 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳)
PDF Dissertation • “Dom Mocquereau and Music Theory” (282 Pages)
My thesis on how Dom Mocquereau relates to other theories of musical rhythm is now available for download.
PDF Download • “Congregational Booklet” (Printable) for Jeff’s New Mass Setting
A congregational booklet requested by Mr. Seth Bauer.