Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for August 2015

Jeff Ostrowski · August 12, 2015

Cardinal Sarah’s Powerful Letter Available In English!

“Adoremus Bulletin” has uploaded a translation of the CDW Prefect’s document.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 11, 2015

Remarkable! • Amiens Cathedral During World War

There’s something scary about this image!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 11, 2015

Evelyn Waugh Requiem Panegyric Preached At Westminster By Fr. Caraman (21 April 1966)

“Evelyn was sad when he read of churches in which the old altar was taken down…”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 10, 2015

Carlo Rossini: “Exaltate Deum Hymnal” (1941)

115 Offertories, Motets, and Hymns for SATB choirs.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 9, 2015

Do You Like This German Hymn Tune?

Hymns in 3/4 can present problems, but this one really isn’t…

Fr. David Friel · August 9, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 6 of 9

The Maniple

Veronica Brandt · August 8, 2015

Three part motet for the Assumption by Ravanello

A little counterpoint gem with ramblings on solfege.

Richard J. Clark · August 7, 2015

That’s Entertainment, Folks!

Entertainment distracts from the Real Presence. We must lead. We must offer substance. Our spiritual lives depend upon it, as do those whom we serve.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 7, 2015

Propers for the Assumption (15 August)

Videos, Scores, & Mp3 Files

Jeff Ostrowski · August 6, 2015

Pope Paul VI Celebrates Ambrosian Rite At Vatican II

Cardinal Montini—later known as Pope Paul VI—celebrates Mass in the St. Peter’s Basilica during Vatican II.

Andrew Leung · August 6, 2015

Sacred Music as an Emotional Experience

Emotions and the field of Sacred Music

Jeff Ostrowski · August 5, 2015

Musical Resources • 11th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

The Verdelot “Agnus Dei” gets better and better the more we explore its treasures.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 5, 2015

Help Needed From Organists Who Can Improvise!

Are you a composer?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 4, 2015

Why St. Josemaría Escrivá Only Celebrated The Extraordinary Form

“Such moments had been a part of his spiritual life since boyhood and through his priesthood.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 4, 2015

The Easiest Way To Teach Your Choir Polyphony

What could be simpler or more fun than this?

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