Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for June 2017

Fr. David Friel · June 29, 2017

Strong with God’s Strength 1

Celebrating Saints Peter & Paul

Andrew Leung · June 29, 2017

Summer Sacred Music Workshop 2017

Southeastern Sacred Music (CMAA) presents: Summer Sacred Music Workshop 2017

Jeff Ostrowski · June 28, 2017

Triumph Beyond Belief … Beyond Imagination

I have been reminded why I got into music in the first place.

Fr. David Friel · June 25, 2017

Composition with Pencil & Paper or Computer Software?

A lunch-time conversation at Sacred Music Colloquium 2017 in St. Paul, MN

Richard J. Clark · June 24, 2017

“Do not let anyone make you feel discouraged.”

Made in God’s image? Really? That’s debatable from my all too human eyes. By the way, I’ve got huge planks in both of them.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 21, 2017

Holy Week Bulletin from 1943

Notice when the ceremonies begin!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 19, 2017

Jaw-Dropping Kyrie (SATB) by Guerrero

I recorded all the voice parts, to demonstrate how it sounds…

Fr. David Friel · June 18, 2017

Silence in the Liturgy

Thoughts from Pope Benedict XVI, Msgr. Guido Marini, and the GIRM

Guest Author · June 14, 2017

Wearing the Veil at Ordinary Form Masses?

A guest article by Danielle Duet.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · June 13, 2017

Forming the Next Generation of Church Musicians

Until we start forming our youth in the Church’s treasury of sacred music we will continue contracepting our musical future to death.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 13, 2017

Nothing More Corny Than This

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli plays Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in d minor…

Jeff Ostrowski · June 12, 2017

First Solemn Mass • Fr. Joseph Favole, FSSP

Capstone to the upcoming Sacred Music Symposium!

Fr. David Friel · June 12, 2017

Liturgical Reflections of a Papal Master of Ceremonies

Essays from Msgr. Guido Marini

Jeff Ostrowski · June 11, 2017

Benedictus has been posted!

Extremely short blog post…

Richard J. Clark · June 9, 2017

I forgot to tell them it’s supposed to be hard.

It never occurred to him that this would be hard, or that he wouldn’t do well. He just thought it would be fun.

💲 5.00 💵

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—Corpus Christi Watershed

Dom Pothier • Photo from 1904

Dom Paul Cagin, in a 1904 publication (L’oeuvre de Solesmes dans la restauration du chant grégorien) made sure to include a beautiful image of Dom Pothier, the legendary abbot of St-Wandrille. Also shown is a very young Dom André Mocquereau. Auguste Pécoul—considered the spiritual “son” of Abbat Prosper Guéranger of Solesmes—wrote as follows on 24 June 1901: “To forestall any confusion, let us remember that there is just one Gregorian notation—that restored, according to the ancient manuscripts, by the eminent Abbot of Saint-Wandrille, Dom Pothier.” ✠

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)

I believe 99% of our readers will recognize this hymn tune. Perhaps Father Edgard De Laet should have called it a ‘hymn’ instead of a ‘motet for three voices’—but he’s technically correct, since MOTET is defined as: “a short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied.” The even verses are for three voices, as you will see if you download the PDF score at #20245. The odd verses may be song a cappella SATB or unison with organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—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