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.

“Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

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