Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for February 2017

Jeff Ostrowski · February 28, 2017

Giacomo Cardinal Lercaro (1891-1976)

“There remains throughout the presence of Bugnini—his bias, his anger, and his prejudice—making one continuously ask the unanswerable question: why?” ~ Msgr. Richard J. Schuler

Guest Author · February 28, 2017

EF Divine Office Resource • Daily Recordings of Lauds

“At the crowing of the cock, hope returns…”

Fr. David Friel · February 26, 2017

The Purpose of Art

Considerations from Tolstoy

Veronica Brandt · February 25, 2017

Making rehearsal CDs and finding mp3s

Burning CDs may seem old-fashioned, but many people still rely on their CD players. All the shortcuts, plus a free recording of Audi Benigne Conditor.

Richard J. Clark · February 24, 2017

Four Real Reasons for Roman Catholic Funerals

The real purpose of a Roman Catholic funeral is not what most people think.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · February 23, 2017

7 Points • “The Joy of Lent”

Does Lent really put people in a bad mood?

Jeff Ostrowski · February 22, 2017

“Morae Vocis” acc. to the Vatican Edition

The «Kyriale» contains very few melismatic morae.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 21, 2017

PDF Download • “Cantus Varii” (469 Pages)

The revolution continues!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 21, 2017

Music and the Imagination

Along the “via pulchritudinis” (the way of beauty) they will come to know Him Who is Beauty itself.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 20, 2017

2-1 Suspension in Guerrero Motet

“Now this is eternal life: That they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

Fr. David Friel · February 19, 2017

Will All Men Be Saved? 1

Hope vs. Certainty

Jeff Ostrowski · February 18, 2017

Musical Resources • Sexagesima Sunday 1

“O God, who seest that we put no trust in ourselves…”

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · February 16, 2017

The Pedagogy of the School Mass Liturgy

The weekly school Mass may be the only Mass some students ever attend.

Andrew Leung · February 14, 2017

Feature Video • London Oratory Schola

A very cool promotion video of the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 14, 2017

Singing for Cardinal Burke’s Pontifical Low Mass

I told Cardinal Burke that is was a blessing for us to sing for the Mass and assured him of our prayers.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music Director Job • $80,000 per year

Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

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