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Views from the Choir Loft

Choirmaster’s Life: “A Life of Sacrifice”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 10, 2016

779 Sperabo HE LIFE of a choirmaster is a life of sacrifice. Indeed, directing a choir is one of the most difficult jobs—and our readers hardly require an explanation from me, since many share this vocation! However, if we look deeper, we realize this is actually a good thing.

For example, it was necessary for me to work very hard to put myself through college. I had earned scholarships, but there were additional requirements for those who received them. Looking back, I’m so glad I applied myself to the fullest—but would I have done so if it weren’t required?

Those of us with small children know how difficult this can be. The fact that I have been suffering due to a serious illness (in spite of many expensive medical procedures) makes things even harder. Sometimes my wife and I get so overwhelmed we just stare at each other: “Is this really happening right now?” Yet, God always has a plan. He knows these trials will bring us closer to Him, so we can be with Him in Heaven one day. Let’s be honest—would anyone choose the difficulties associated with raising children if they were given another option?

Due to human nature, I believe most of us wouldn’t reach our potential unless we have to. 1

AS A CHOIRMASTER, nothing would be easier than having twenty paid professional singers present each week. I’ve done that in the past, and it’s really awesome. On the other hand, working with volunteers is quite challenging. You must work very hard—or they stop coming. You must introduce new music—or they stop coming. You must not overwhelm them—or they stop coming. You must accept their quirks—or they stop coming. You must make sure the level of performance is acceptable and doesn’t sound horrible—or they stop coming. You must be flexible, adjusting to their needs as they are revealed to you—or they stop coming. You must be energetic and happy, bursting with energy and knowledge and excitement—or they stop coming.

But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

These challenges force us to become better at what we do. As I mentioned earlier, most of us would not push ourselves—unless we have to. Most importantly of all, these efforts please God.

And when the choir sings well, it’s all worth it. And when you see the transformation in people who have learned so much from your directing, it’s totally worth it!



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   If you examine the great composers, you will notice that—almost without exception—they wrote their best works out of necessity. They often had an urgent purpose: compose this piece, or you don’t eat! We hardly ever find composers “going off into a corner” and composing a piece without an immediate purpose in mind. Performers are the same way. When Horowitz had very little money, he reached the zenith of his career. After he became extremely famous and rich, his playing suffered tremendously. (The drugs didn’t help matters, either!) Horowitz could sit in his pajamas all day if he desired—and often did—and this was his undoing.

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 Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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

Random Quote

What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful.

— ‘His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)’

Recent Posts

  • Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
  • Bishop François Charrière Vs. Hannibal Bugnini
  • 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “My First Year with the Latin Mass” • A Music Director’s Perspective
  • Boston Auxiliary Bishop: “In offering the Traditional Mass for the first time, after removing the vestments, I knelt in the back pew and wept.”

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