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Views from the Choir Loft

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

Jeff Ostrowski · June 27, 2016

E ARE BLESSED WITH a fantastic volunteer choir at our FSSP apostolate in Los Angeles. In less than two years, we’ve come so far—and I think you’ll agree we’re on the right path! Remember that many of these good folks had never sung in a choir until recently. Each week we sound a little better, and we hope to show Los Angeles that volunteer choirs can do authentic sacred music at Mass.

The microphone wasn’t placed correctly, so these recordings don’t accurately represent the beautiful choral sounds from last night—but they give a rough idea:

    * *  “Live” Mp3 • PROCESSIONAL

    * *  “Live” Mp3 • KYRIE

    * *  “Live” Mp3 • GLORIA

    * *  “Live” Mp3 • GRADUAL & ALLELUIA

    * *  “Live” Mp3 • CREDO IV

    * *  “Live” Mp3 • SANCTUS

    * *  “Live” Mp3 • BENEDICTUS & HOSANNA

    * *  “Live” Mp3 • TRINITY HYMN

    * *  “Live” Mp3 • RECESSIONAL

Our members didn’t allow nerves to get the better of them—even though the church was overflowing with people for last night’s special pontifical:

396 Packed Church


Attendance was pretty amazing, considering how hot it was yesterday. Temperatures here in Los Angeles have been quite high lately—and multiply that times two to know the heat level in the choir loft!


A discussion about this post is underway.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Many of those who have influenced the reform […] have no love, and no veneration of that which has been handed down to us. They begin by despising everything that is actually there.”

— Cardinal Antonelli (Peritus during the Second Vatican Council)

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  • Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦

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