Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for March 2016

Jeff Ostrowski · March 31, 2016

Mother Angelica • “60 Minutes” (1984)

This video shows Mother Angelica playing the drums at Mass! (Not kidding!)

Andrew Leung · March 31, 2016

Promoting a Good Choral Culture at Your Parish

Nothing is impossible with God, everyone can promote a good choral culture at their parish.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 31, 2016

Bishop Doerfler’s Stunning Church Music Letter

“All parishes and schools are to have implemented the following directives by December 31, 2020.” —Bishop Doerfler.

Richard J. Clark · March 31, 2016

Sequence During the Octave of Easter

Singing the sequence, “Victimae Paschali Laudes” is truly appropriate every day this week.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 30, 2016

“Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above” • Nine Organ Accompaniments

Why do we love descants so much?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2016

Mother Angelica, How Bad Was It?

“To preside, a person must live from the rich ambiguity of symbolic reality.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 28, 2016

PDF Download • Monsignor Ronald A. Knox “The Trials Of A Translator” (1949)

Your Easter present has arrived!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 27, 2016

True Meaning Of Easter?

After all the work we musicians do to make Holy Week special…

Andrew Leung · March 25, 2016

Funeral March for Jesus

Annual Good Friday Funeral March in Macau.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 24, 2016

Musical Resources • Holy Thursday (1962 Missal)

“By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples: if you have love one for another.”

Andrew Leung · March 24, 2016

Tantum Ergo by a French Composer

A setting of Tantum Ergo by Déodat de Sévérac.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2016

A Church Music Issue Nobody Will Touch

Numerous articles have been written about Cardinal Sarah’s “foot washing” communique.

Fr. David Friel · March 20, 2016

Baptisms in the Extraordinary Form

Reflections on a Recent Experience

Jeff Ostrowski · March 19, 2016

Footage From 1968 • Pope Paul VI Giving Out Palms

The Cardinals don’t need to wear red—they have it on already!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 19, 2016

PDF Download • “Chants Abrégés des Graduels, des Alleluias, et des Traits”

Simplified according to ancient psalm tones.

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Dom Pothier • Photo from 1904

Dom Paul Cagin, in a 1904 publication (L’oeuvre de Solesmes dans la restauration du chant grégorien) made sure to include a beautiful image of Dom Pothier, the legendary abbot of St-Wandrille. Also shown is a very young Dom André Mocquereau. Auguste Pécoul—considered the spiritual “son” of Abbat Prosper Guéranger of Solesmes—wrote as follows on 24 June 1901: “To forestall any confusion, let us remember that there is just one Gregorian notation—that restored, according to the ancient manuscripts, by the eminent Abbot of Saint-Wandrille, Dom Pothier.” ✠

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)

I believe 99% of our readers will recognize this hymn tune. Perhaps Father Edgard De Laet should have called it a ‘hymn’ instead of a ‘motet for three voices’—but he’s technically correct, since MOTET is defined as: “a short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied.” The even verses are for three voices, as you will see if you download the PDF score at #20245. The odd verses may be song a cappella SATB or unison with organ.

—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