Views from the Choir Loft

Easter Vigil Readings With Dancer • St. Patrick Catholic Church (Seattle, Washington)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 9, 2015

HIS DISTURBING VIDEO appeared on the internet. It’s from the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday evening in Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church (Seattle, Washington): ¹

This video doesn’t affect my family—in a certain sense—because it’s not my parish.

On the other hand, what if someone in the parish reported this incident to their local bishop? I’m not sure what actions could be taken, because the USCCB Liturgy Committee declared in 2012 that important sections of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) can be ignored. What’s to stop other sections from being ignored?

Moreover, if you read all the documentation provided by Daniel Craig, you’ll notice a justification being given. The GIRM says clearly (§48) that songs replacing the assigned texts must be approved by the Episcopal Conference. The “American Adaptation” for the GIRM—approved by Rome—says the local bishop can also give permission. But the Bishops’ Committee said the GIRM can be ignored, because “local musicians” without permission can decide for themselves which alternate texts are acceptable:

“The guidelines articulated in Sing to the Lord (2007) are given to guide composers in their composition and those who plan/prepare liturgy in the choice of music…”

You probably think I’m going to say: “See? Judge by that video whether people can make their own liturgical decisions.” But that’s not what I’m going to say.

The GIRM is specific about getting a bishop’s approval because of accountability. We need to start following the GIRM as soon as possible! Then, if a bishop approves the type of goofy songs excoriated by Fr. Paul Scalia, that bishop will receive feedback.

UPDATE :

Judging from their facebook page, this parish seems to have similar things each week:

956 David Haas Liturgical Dancing

I was surprised to see composer David Haas comment in support. It might be instructive to compare the processional of an Extraordinary Form Mass with their procession dance.

NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1 I’m 95% sure the current pastor, Fr. Patrick Clark, is the priest shown in several videos on their YouTube channel.

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).

Which Mass?

In 1905, when the Vatican Commission on Gregorian Chant began publishing the EDITIO VATICANA—still the Church’s official edition— they assigned different Masses to different types of feasts. However, they were careful to add a note (which began with the words “Qualislibet cantus hujus Ordinarii…”) making clear “chants from one Mass may be used together with those from others.” Sadly, I sometimes worked for TLM priests who weren’t fluent in Latin. As a result, they stubbornly insisted Mass settings were ‘assigned’ to different feasts and seasons (which is false). To understand the great variety, one should examine the 1904 KYRIALE of Dr. Peter Wagner. One should also look through Dom Mocquereau’s Liber Usualis (1904), in which the Masses are all mixed up. For instance, Gloria II in his book ended up being moved to the ‘ad libitum’ appendix in the EDITIO VATICANA.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Like! Like! Like!

You won’t believe who recently gave us a “like” on the Corpus Christi Watershed FACEBOOK PAGE. Click here (PDF) to see who it was. We were not only sincerely honored, we were utterly flabbergasted. This was truly a resounding endorsement and unmistakable stamp of approval.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Atténde Dómine”

Although it isn’t nearly as ancient as other hymns in the plainsong repertoire, Atténde Dómine, et miserére, quía peccávimus tíbi (“Look down, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee”) has become one of the most popular hymns for LENT—perhaps because it was included in the famous Liber Usualis of Solesmes. This musical score (PDF file) has an incredibly accurate version in English, as well as a nice version in Spanish, and also the original Latin. Although I don’t claim to have a great singing voice, this morning I recorded this rehearsal video.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of Febr. (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. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—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

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