Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for April 2016

Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2016

“Et Cum Spiritu Tuo” in the 1961 Fulton Sheen Missal

What Fr. Philip Caraman does may surprise you…

Andrew Leung · April 7, 2016

Free Downloads • Works by Cardinal Bartolucci (Part 2)

More choral works by Cardinal Bartolucci are available on the Domenico Bartolucci Foundation website.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 6, 2016

“I confess that I was a liturgical nut” says Bishop consecrated by Pope Paul VI

“The liturgy is not only worship of God; it is the way we are formed in our faith.” —Bishop Gracida

Guest Author · April 6, 2016

Musical and Liturgical Life at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center

Praising our Extraordinary God in the Ordinary Form

Jeff Ostrowski · April 5, 2016

Mass Propers • Fascinating Articles From 1924

Editors of “The Tablet” felt these essays were horrendous!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 5, 2016

We Need Assistance! Please Help Watershed Survive!

My 5-part series requesting donations seems to have failed miserably—with a few notable exceptions.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · April 5, 2016

A Musically Model Parish

I thought I would share some visioning ideas regarding music in the Ordinary Form parish.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 4, 2016

“Hymn To The Blessed Virgin Mary” • Caswall & Parry

Choirs not yet ready for SATB hymn singing will love this version for two voices!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 4, 2016

Ward Method Studies • Space Available!

The chant must be sung lightly, and not too slowly.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 3, 2016

Musical Resources • Low Sunday (1962 Missal)

“In the day of My resurrection, saith the Lord, I will go before you into Galilee…”

Fr. David Friel · April 3, 2016

Which Masses Would You Choose?

If you had the opportunity to add more festive music to selected feasts in the liturgical year, to which would you give preference?

Andrew Leung · April 1, 2016

The Chapel Royal Solemn Vespers is Available on BBC

A recording of the Solemn Vespers at the Chapel Royal is now available on BBC’s website.

Richard J. Clark · April 1, 2016

O Happy Fault • Nine things that are pure privilege

Such a reference to original sin—a positive reference—seems quite strange to us.

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)

I’d much rather hear an organist play a simplified version correctly than listen to wrong notes. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #729 in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal. The hymn is “O Jesus Christ, Remember.” I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 1,900 times in a matter of hours—so there seems to be interest in such a project. For the record, this famous text is often married to AURELIA, as it is in the Brébeuf Hymnal. The lyrics come from the pen of Father Edward Caswall (d. 1878), an Oratorian priest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase

Father Adrian Porter, using the cracher dans la soupe example, did a praiseworthy job explaining the difference between ‘dynamic’ and ‘formal’ translation. This is something Monsignor Ronald Knox explained time and again—yet even now certain parties feign ignorance. I suppose there will always be people who pretend the only ‘valid’ translation of Mitigásti omnem iram tuam; avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ… would be “You mitigated all ire of you; you have averted from your indignation’s ire.” Those who would defend such a translation suffer from an unfortunate malady. One of my professors called it “cognate on the brain.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (2025)

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. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski

“The introduction of the vernacular will certainly be a great sacrifice for those who know the beauty, the power and the expressive sacrality of Latin. We are parting with the speech of the Christian centuries; we are becoming like profane intruders in the literary preserve of sacred utterance. We will lose a great part of that stupendous and incomparable artistic and spiritual thing, the Gregorian chant. We have reason indeed for regret […] We are giving up something of priceless worth.”

— Pope Paul VI