Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for December 2014

Jeff Ostrowski · December 5, 2014

Latin Mass In Los Angeles • THIS SUNDAY!

“I’m not one of those Novus Ordo = bad, Tridentine = good people…” —Carlos de Quesado

Richard J. Clark · December 5, 2014

Marian Meditations on RJC Cecilia Music

When I was young, I never viewed the Blessed Virgin Mary as a great source of inspiration for composition. How wrong that turned out to be!

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · December 4, 2014

Resurgent in the Midst of Crisis

A new book for those who are struggling to understand what has happened to the noble liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church and how we might find our way out of this crisis.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 3, 2014

The Actual Authentic Writing Of Palestrina

Colin Mawby, former Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, travels to Rome in this video, letting you see an original manuscript of Palestrina.

Andrew R. Motyka · December 3, 2014

Holy Days of Obligation: Immaculate Conception

A few questions about obligation to attend Mass on the Immaculate Conception.

Cynthia Ostrowski · December 2, 2014

Catholic Line Art, Black and White • Installment #61

Today’s installment is a rare image of the “Immaculate Conception.”

Aurelio Porfiri · December 1, 2014

Exclusive Interview • Msgr. Valentino Miserachs (Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Rome)

“What is the role of Liturgical Music?”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 1, 2014

The Current Missal Specifies When To Face the Altar & When To Face The People

The phrase “ad populum conversus” does appear in the postconciliar books, and no amount of polemical articles can change this fact.

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

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

“Latin has been the language of the Latin liturgy for 1,600 years. It is a sign and source of unity as well as a defense of doctrine, not because of the language so much, but because it is a language no longer subject to changes. There are so many beautiful texts which can never have the same effectiveness in translation. Lastly, Latin is bound to an extremely precious heritage of melody, Gregorian chant and polyphony.”

— Cardinal Antonelli (Secretary of the Conciliar Commission on the Liturgy)