Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for February 2012

Jeff Ostrowski · February 23, 2012

Exsultet Video Recording • Paschal Proclamation • Plus MP3 Recordings!

The Easter Proclamation (“Exsultet”) sung on Holy Saturday Night New Translation (Roman Missal, 3rd Edition)

Fr. David Friel · February 20, 2012

Roman Missal 3.0 — Installment No. 5

Part 5 of 5: The Musical Missal

Fr. David Friel · February 16, 2012

Roman Missal 3.0 — Installment No. 4

Part 4 of 5: Fidelity Reveals Theology

Fr. David Friel · February 10, 2012

Roman Missal 3.0 — Installment No. 3

Part 3 of 5: The Orientation of the Canon

Fr. David Friel · February 6, 2012

Roman Missal 3.0 — Installment no. 2

Part 2 of 5: The Beauty of Repetition

Fr. David Friel · February 3, 2012

Roman Missal 3.0 — Installment no. 1

Part 1 of 5: The Church as “She”

Jeff Ostrowski · February 3, 2012

A Polyphonic Kyrie During Lent

The Gloria is not said during Lent, so musicians can “get away” with using a slightly longer Kyrie . . .

16 November 2021 • So Valuable!

If people only knew about this this website, they would be amazed. It is called the “snippets” index, and I could not live without it. We’ve tried everything we can think of to let people know about it—and we’ll keep trying—but even some of our most faithful readers don’t realize that hidden treasure!

—Jeff Ostrowski

11 November 2021 • “Iste Confessor” Hymn

The brief little SATB piece, O Pater Sancte (PDF), has been requested by many. The full title is O Pater Sancte, Mitis Atque Pie (“Father most holy, gracious and forgiving”). The melody occurs many times in the The Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal—including on page 724 with a fabulous translation by Monsignor Knox. The tune is called “Iste Confessor,” and you can learn more here.

Harmonies are © Brébeuf Hymnal (2018)

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Hymnals Compared” • with PDF files!

Mr. Daniel Craig, an accountant, comes from a musical family. His sister is a nun, and his brother is currently a seminarian. He has put together a detailed comparison of fifteen traditional Catholic hymnals. Many PDF files are included. Click here to view the article.

—Jeff Ostrowski