Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for February 2017

Jeff Ostrowski · February 13, 2017

Refutations • “Can the Latin Mass be enriched?”

The OF can enrich the EF, but not the way Fr. Stravinskas describes.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 11, 2017

Who I Am

Vladimir Horowitz was especially known for this ability.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 9, 2017

“A Trip to the Sacred Music Symposium” • (Film)

Two young ladies in high school created this video as part of a school project.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 8, 2017

Beauty, Music and the Sacred Liturgy

Beauty will return to the Sacred Liturgy when we once again turn our hearts to the Lord.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 7, 2017

Musical Resources • Septuagesima Sunday 1

“Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?”

Jeff Ostrowski · February 6, 2017

Pope Benedict XVI on this Sunday’s Introit

“The virgin mother bound his limbs in swaddling clothes; such bands held the hands and feet of God!”

Fr. David Friel · February 6, 2017

The Japanese Martyrs

Extraordinary Strength of Faith

Jeff Ostrowski · February 5, 2017

“The Return of the SSPX”

Reflections by a member of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter.

Fr. David Friel · February 5, 2017

God Has No Need of Our Music

A Thought from Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

Jeff Ostrowski · February 3, 2017

Did we meet our fundraising goal?

The answer will amaze!

Andrew Leung · February 2, 2017

Invest in your Music Program!

Financial support is necessary for building a successful parish music program.

Luis Martínez Must Go!

Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

—Jeff Ostrowski

Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!

A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)

I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.

—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