Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for April 2017

Guest Author · April 17, 2017

Palestrina and the Perfecting of the Medieval Ideal of Music as Rational • (Part 2 of 3)

The polyphonic imitative style of the Renaissance is a refection of the rational mind and the music of heaven.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 17, 2017

PDF Download • Last Minute Holy Saturday File

“The use of Psalm 150 is a change from the experimental Easter Vigil (1951-1955) in which Psalm 116 was used for Lauds.” —Msgr. McManus

Fr. David Friel · April 16, 2017

Introducing the Wethersfield Institute Chant Workshop

A new chant workshop in upstate New York in June 2017.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 15, 2017

“Reproaches” for Good Friday (Recording)

The indispensable “Musician’s Guide to Good Friday,” including a 50-page PDF and rehearsal videos!

Richard J. Clark · April 14, 2017

Descent into Hell and The Greatest Act of Love

Read the words of John 3:16 again.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 13, 2017

Do these Holy Thursday rubrics strike you as odd?

I haven’t studied the situation enough to know with certainty.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 12, 2017

Musical Resources • Holy Thursday (EF)

“O God, from Whom Judas received the punishment of his crime, and the thief the reward of his confession…”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 12, 2017

“Contemporary” Catholic Music • Is it truly dead?

Today we announce a special guest who will be present at the Sacred Music Symposium!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 10, 2017

Accompaniment: “Credo III” (Parochial Hymnal)

Easiest organ accompaniment to Credo III ever penned.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 10, 2017

PDF Download • Booklet for Congregation

May I share a secret?

Fr. David Friel · April 9, 2017

Square Note App

Bring your “Graduale Digitalum” wherever you go.

Corpus Christi Watershed · April 8, 2017

Members’ Page • Sacred Music Symposium 2018

Private & Confidential

Veronica Brandt · April 8, 2017

33 Days to Marian Consecration

There are 33 days to prepare for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima this centenary year, starting Monday April 10.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2017

Musical Resources • Palm Sunday (1962) 1

“The multitude goeth forth to meet our Redeemer with flowers and palms, and payeth the homage due to a triumphant conqueror.”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2017

Intensely Powerful • “Requiem” Production (FSSP)

I’ve never seen a more beautiful promo video.

Spectacular Communion Setting!

The FAUXBOURDON setting of the Communion for the Baptism of the Lord (which will occur this coming Sunday) strikes me as quite spectacular. The verses—composed by the fifth century Christian poet, Coelius Sedulius—come from a long alphabetical acrostic and are deservedly famous. The feast of the LORD’S BAPTISM was traditionally the octave day of Epiphany, but in the 1962 kalendar it was made ‘more explicit’ or emphasized. The 1970 MISSALE ROMANUM elevated this feast even further.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (Sunday, 11 January)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (SUNDAY, 11 January 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The FAUXBOURDON verses for the Communion Antiphon—to say nothing of the antiphon itself—are breathtaking. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the monumental feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Epiphany Hymn • “New 2-Voice Arrangement”

The Von Trapp Family Singers loved a melody that was featured heavily (perhaps even “too heavily”) in the Brébeuf Hymnal. It goes by many names, including ALTONA, VOM HIMMEL HOCH, and ERFURT. If you only have one man and one woman singing, you will want to download this arrangement for two voices. It really is a marvelous tune—and it’s especially fitting during the season of Christmas and Epiphany.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of January (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “In Paradisum” in English

We always sing the IN PARADISUM in Latin, as printed on this PDF score. I have an appallingly bad memory (meaning I’d be a horrible witness in court). In any event, it’s been brought to my attention that 15 years ago I created this organ accompaniment for the famous and beautiful ‘IN PARADISUM’ Gregorian chant sung in English according to ‘MR3’ (Roman Missal, Third Edition). If anyone desires such a thing, feel free to download and print. Looking back, I wish I’d brought the TENOR and BASS voices into a unison (on B-Natural) for the word “welcome” on the second line.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Far from dreading an encounter with the Iroquois, Fr. Garnier often told us he would be quite content to fall into their hands and remain their prisoner if—while they were torturing him—he at least had a chance of instructing them as long as his torments lasted. If they allowed him to live, it would afford him a golden opportunity to work for their conversion, which was now impossible, since the gateway to their country was closed as long as they were our enemies.

— Father Ragueneau (Jesuit Relations)