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.

Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers

In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski