Views from the Choir Loft

11:00am Choir Page

Jeff Ostrowski · May 6, 2018

Our first rehearsal will be on Wednesday night, 27 January 2021, at 7:00pm at Saint Vitus.

The first Mass we sing is 31 January 2021, call time 10:30am.

The rest of the schedule:

* PDF Download • SCHEDULE for 11:00AM
—This shows February and March.

Learn “Kyrie IV” from the Père Daniel Website.

#88208 • “Non Nobis, Domine” (William Byrd Canon)

We will also learn a Hymn.

In the near future, we will learn a polyphonic Mass, and polyphonic pieces by Giovanni Maria Nanino (d. 1607).

Pieces to be working on for Saint Vitus in the (somewhat distant) future.

* PDF Download • Pieces to be studying
—This is for both the 9:00am and the 11:00am.

Upcoming Masses

31 January 2021 • SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY

Entrance Song:
Hymn #403 Rebus Creatis Nil Egens

INTROIT = Jeff + Anthony

KYRIE = Kyrie IV … rehearsal videos on Saint Antoine Daniel

GLORIA = There is no Gloria

Gradual + Tract = Mode iii psalm tone

Creed = Credo IV … rehearsal videos on Saint Antoine Daniel

Offertory = Mode 8 psalm tone • “Bonum est confiteri Domino”

Jeff will play organ at Offertory

Sanctus and Agnus Dei = Mass XI … rehearsal videos on Saint Antoine Daniel

Communion = #88208 • “Non Nobis, Domine” (William Byrd Canon)

Exit Song:
Hymn #411 Rebus Creatis Nil Egens • with ALTO AND SOPRANO

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” 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

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“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