Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for June 2018

Corpus Christi Watershed · June 30, 2018

Saint Vitus Roman Catholic Church • Los Angeles, CA

Four (4) Masses each Sunday! Established by Archbishop Gomez as an exclusively Latin Mass Parish for Los Angeles!

Richard J. Clark · June 29, 2018

Gregorian Impressions • Plainchant Settings for Organ

A new collection of organ works based on familiar and beloved plainchants

Andrew Leung · June 28, 2018

How to be a Good Choir Member?

Some tips on how to be a good teammate in a choir.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 24, 2018

(Recorded Live) • “Agnus Dei” at the Symposium

About 450 people attended the Mass on Friday night

Fr. David Friel · June 24, 2018

Novena for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Solemn High Mass at Philadelphia Carmel

Jeff Ostrowski · June 19, 2018

iPhone Clip • From Sacred Music Symposium 2018

This year’s Symposium has begun…with a bang!

Fr. David Friel · June 16, 2018

Sacred Music Camp in Allentown, NJ

New Opportunity for Children Grades 3–12

Richard J. Clark · June 15, 2018

James David Christie • International Performer of the Year

As both performer and teacher, James David Christie models excellence and beauty.

Andrew Leung · June 14, 2018

Raising the Musical Standards (Part 2)

Raising the musical standards leads to deeper prayers…

Jeff Ostrowski · June 12, 2018

“Come Holy Ghost” • Improvisation

Can you improvise?

Fr. David Friel · June 10, 2018

Sacred Music Camp for Children in Philadelphia

The Inaugural “Cantate Domino” Festival

Veronica Brandt · June 10, 2018

Save the World: Build More Carmels

Society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

Veronica Brandt · June 9, 2018

Perpetual Succour Passes the Equator

One young doctor sailing across the Pacific Ocean to raise money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. You do meet all sorts at Mass.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 8, 2018

“No, I was taught that in school…”

The famous wit of William F. Buckley Jr. is quite conspicuous in this clip.

Andrew Leung · June 7, 2018

Raising the Musical Standards (Part 1)

The low musical standards in churches these days…

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed