Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for July 2017

Jeff Ostrowski · July 31, 2017

Major Typo • This Sunday’s Introit

Can you spot the error?

Fr. David Friel · July 30, 2017

Pastoral Care of Persons with Disabilites

Catholics with disabilities have a right to participate in the sacraments as fully as other members of the local ecclesial community.

Richard J. Clark · July 28, 2017

The “Charism” of Saying “No”

The ability to say “no” is an important gift of which much good can come, if used with wisdom, mercy, and kindness.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 27, 2017

How Is The “Kiss of Peace” Done Properly?

Do the Altar Servers receive the Kiss of Peace?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 27, 2017

Musical Resources • 8th Sunday after Pentecost

“We have received Thy mercy, O God, in the midst of Thy temple…”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 26, 2017

Seven Rules for Church Music (Sir Richard Terry)

“Is plainsong really so dull and dry as some of our singers would have us believe?”

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 25, 2017

Video • FSSP Altar Server Training Camp

The FSSP seminarians exceeded all expectations!

Christopher Mueller · July 25, 2017

What really happened at the Convocation of Catholic Leaders

Beautiful liturgical music happened—in a hotel ballroom, no less!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 24, 2017

“Tu Es Petrus” • Commissioned for the Symposium

This piece by Kevin Allen is based on the plainsong Communion antiphon.

Fr. David Friel · July 23, 2017

Seven Rules for Writing Sermons

Guidance from Bl. John Henry Cardinal Newman

Andrew Leung · July 20, 2017

Recording • Choral Mattins with John Rutter

Here is some great church music coming from the Anglican Cathedral of Hong Kong

Jeff Ostrowski · July 19, 2017

“Mode 4” • How To Teach Your Choir

Did you notice the “ups and downs” were omitted? The choir will fill those in…

Guest Author · July 19, 2017

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

We look to Mary to understand the “self reflection” of sacred polyphony.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 18, 2017

Video • Wilko Brouwers

Can anyone identify the composer of this piece?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 17, 2017

Organ Improvisation • Stupefyingly Awesome!

Does this constitute an organic development?

PDF Download • “For Pentecost Sunday”

Yesterday morning, I recorded myself singing the ENTRANCE CHANT for Pentecost Sunday while simultaneously accompanying myself on the pipe organ. Click here to see how that came out. At the end of the antiphon, there’s a triple Allelúja and I just love the chord at the end of the 2nd iteration. The organ accompaniment—along with the musical score for singers—can be downloaded free of charge at the flourishing feasts website. For the record, the antiphon on Pentecost Sunday doesn’t come from a psalm; it comes from the book of Wisdom.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”

Over the past few years, I’ve been harmonizing all the vernacular plainsong Introit settings by the CHAUMONOT COMPOSERS GROUP. This coming Sunday—10 May 2026—is the 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A). The following declaration will probably smack of “blowing my own horn.” However, I’d rank this accompaniment as my best yet. In this rehearsal video, I attempt to sing it while simultaneously accompanying myself on the pipe organ. The musical score [for singers] as well as my organ accompaniment can be downloaded free of charge from the flourishing feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 4 May 2026

A few days ago, the CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED Facebook page posted this Gregorian Chant quiz regarding a rubric for the SEQUENCE for the feast of Corpus Christi: “Lauda Sion Salvatórem.” There is no audience more intelligent than ours—yet surprisingly nobody has been able to guess the rubric. Drop me an email with the right answer, and I’ll affirm your brilliance to everyone I encounter!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Thee” + “Thou” + “Thine”

Few musicians realize that various English translations of Sacred Scripture were granted formal approval by the USCCB and the Vatican for liturgical use in the United States of America. But don’t take my word for it! Here are four documents proving this, which you can examine with your own eyes. Some believe the words “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee” were forbidden after Vatican II—but that’s incorrect. For example, they’re found in the English translation of the ‘Our Father’ at Mass. Moreover, the Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) mentioned in those four documents employs “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee.” It was published with a FOREWORD by Westminster’s Roman Catholic Archbishop (John Cardinal Heenan).

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of May (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. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)

I published an article on 11 November 2023 called Wedding March For The Lazy Organist, which rather offhandedly made reference to a simplified version I created in 2007 for Pachelbel’s Canon. I often use it as a PROCESSIONAL for weddings and quinceañeras. Many organists say they “hate” Pachelbel’s Canon. But I love it. I think it’s bright and beautiful. I created that ‘simplified version’ for musicians coming to grips with playing the pipe organ. It can be downloaded as a free PDF if you visit Andrea Leal’s article dated 15 August 2022: Manuals Only: Organ Interludes Based on Plainsong. Specifically, it is page 84 in that collection—generously offered as a free PDF download. Johann Pachelbel (d. 1706) was a renowned German organist, violinist, teacher, and composer of over 500 works. A friend of Bach’s family, he taught Johann Christoph Bach (Sebastian Bach’s eldest brother) and lived in his house. Those who read Pachelbel’s biography will notice his connection to two German cities adopted as famous hymn tune names: EISENACH and ERFURT.

—Jeff Ostrowski