Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for June 2016

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · June 30, 2016

The Positive Impact Of Parish Events

These things must begin at the parish level.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · June 30, 2016

Do My Eyes Deceive Me?

I’ve often told my choir members that before I die they will be singing from music displayed on some form of a tablet, but I never thought I’d see the Capella Sistina blazing the trail!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 29, 2016

“Salve Virgo Singularis” • For Three Voices

I cannot imagine a more powerful text.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · June 28, 2016

Theology and Music

I hope and pray the Church continues to raise up true artists who will bring the Gospel to the world through the greatest of all the Church’s arts—Music.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 27, 2016

Audio Samples • Can A Volunteer Choir Sing Excellent Music At Mass?

If you think we weren’t nervous to sing before so many … think again!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 27, 2016

Wow! Take 35% off your purchase!

The Goupil Graduals arrived this morning, and they look marvelous!

Veronica Brandt · June 25, 2016

It’s not about talent

A church musician’s work may well be priceless. We don’t need to have gratitude for our natural talent, though talent can make life easier. The big honour is to serve God at the summit and source of Christian life.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 24, 2016

Los Angeles Pontifical Mass • This Coming Sunday!

We’ll be joined by Bishop Athanasius Schneider, our FSSP District Superior, and several FSSP seminarians for a Solemn Pontifical Mass in Hollywood.

Richard J. Clark · June 24, 2016

New Organ Work • Madonna & Child

It took me—the composer—to realize this is really a work about mother and child.

Fr. David Friel · June 24, 2016

Colloquium 2016 • Day 4

Reflections on Offering a Colloquium Mass

Fr. David Friel · June 23, 2016

Colloquium 2016 • Day 3

The Organic Development of the Liturgy and the New Music Breakouts

Jeff Ostrowski · June 23, 2016

“I will fear no evils, for thou art with me.”

St. John Vianney was once overheard speaking directly to the Lord.

Andrew Leung · June 23, 2016

Made in China

Gregorian Chant pew cards in Hong Kong.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 22, 2016

Purchase Hard Copies of the Goupil Gradual

Eight reasons why every choirmaster needs this new resource.

Fr. David Friel · June 22, 2016

Colloquium 2016 • Day 2

Explanatory Images from Wilko Brouwers

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Cantus Mariales” (192 pages)

Andrea Leal has posted an absolutely pristine scan of CANTUS MARIALES (192 pages) which can be downloaded as a PDF file. To access this treasure, navigate to the frabjous article Andrea posted Monday. The file is being offered completely free of charge. The beginning pages of the book have something not to be missed: viz. a letter from Pope Saint Pius X to Dom Pothier, in which the pope calls Abbat Pothier “a man versed above all others in the science of liturgy, and to whom the cause of Gregorian chant is greatly indebted.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (2nd Sunday of Lent)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 2nd Sunday of Lent (1 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has magnificent propers. Its somber INTROIT is particularly striking—using a haunting tonality—but the COMMUNION with its fauxbourdon verses is also quite remarkable. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Extreme Unction

Those who search Google for “CCCC MS 079” will discover high resolution images of a medieval Pontificale (“Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 079”). One of the pages contains this absolutely gorgeous depiction of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

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