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Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for January 2020

Jeff Ostrowski · January 31, 2020

A Traditional—But Bizarre!—Way To Assist At Mass

Just because I’m aware of something that happened in the past doesn’t mean I endorse it.

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Richard J. Clark · January 31, 2020

Two Reasons for Fewer Vocations

The marketing and commercialization of sacred music has had vastly mixed results, some positive, but some deleterious.

Andrea Leal · January 29, 2020

In Which a Neo-Pagan Converts

I could feel that this Glory was immense, and mysterious, and real. But I could not quite grasp what that meant for me or what I should even do about it.

Dr. Gregory Hamilton · January 28, 2020

“Performance” and the Liturgy.

I have sometimes been told that I was “performing” in the Liturgy, and this has made me think about the meaning of this term and why people say it…

Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2020

Photos! • Brébeuf Choral Supplement Has Arrived

The Brébeuf hymnal collection is now complete—and it’s truly revolutionary!

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2020

Pothier’s 1906 “De Caetero” Letter • Two Translations

“The Catholic tradition cannot be that of any special school, either ancient or modern…” —Abbot Pothier

Andrew Leung · January 28, 2020

Mass with Masks Thumbnail

Mass with Masks in Hong Kong

I took a few pictures during our Sunday Mass…

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Veronica Brandt · January 28, 2020

Litany of St Joseph

The Litany of St Joseph in Latin chant with an English translation.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2020

Anger at mistakes?

I have a bad habit of getting frustrated when choir members take a long time to learn a particular interval or entrance. But this can be “cured.” It was cured a few weeks ago, when I made a mistake. I was supposed to go down a minor third, but instead I went down a perfect […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 27, 2020

Photograph • Fr. Valentine w/ Composer Kevin Allen

Please keep Fr. Valentine in your prayers—thank you!

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Fr. David Friel · January 26, 2020

The Book of Kells Online

The Book of Kells, as well as 150,000 artworks housed in Parisian museums, can be freely viewed online.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 26, 2020

“The old man carried the Child, but the Child led the old man.”

The Antiphon for First Vespers of the Feast of the Purification (February 2nd) is beautiful: “The old man carried the Child, but it was the Child who was guiding the old man. The Virgin bore the Child, and after child-bearing was virgin still: whom she bore, him she adored.” —Senex púerum portábat, puer autem senem […]

Patrick Torsell · January 25, 2020

The Organ Postlude: Distraction, or Powerful Aid to Devotion?

The organ postlude is a powerful way to cultivate dispositions of rejoicing, thanksgiving, and awe before the greatness of God at the conclusion of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

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Richard J. Clark · January 24, 2020

Liturgy is the work of Christ and His Body, the Church.

When we consider the redemptive power of the Mass, our eyes, hearts, and minds are opened wide!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2020

A quote from Fr. Valentine Young

I had one brother who was out of the church for quite a few years. When my mother was asked, “Did she worry about him?” I remember her answer: “I don’t worry about him; I just pray for him.” She left that in God’s hands. My mother did not live to see her son return […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2020

Extremely Rare! • 1908 Solesmes Graduale (PDF Download)

I’ve been searching for this book for twenty years! • For the first time in history, the Graduale Romanum from 1908 (with Solesmes rhythmic markings) has been scanned and uploaded • Includes copious and detailed information about the rhythm of the Editio Vaticana (“Vatican Edition”) you won’t find anywhere else+

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2020

“Theoricam practicamque”

In a book printed by Solesmes Abbey in 1902, “Kyrie Rex Genitor” is also called Theoricam practicamque. Can anyone explain why? And how does that translate into English? “Theoricam practicamque vitam regens Deus Pater.”

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Lucas Tappan · January 22, 2020

Here is Where We Go

What is absolutely necessary for the existence of a choral foundation?

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William J. Fritz · January 22, 2020

Biography • William J. Fritz

William Fritz is a composer, pianist, organist, liturgical musician and director of music at St. John the Baptist Parish in Costa Mesa, CA.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 21, 2020

This old holy card says it all…

For priests, it reads: “In memory of that day on which was given what is not given to angels—that I should offer God to God.”

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Quick Thoughts

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Since the English is not meant to be sung, but only to tell people who do not understand Latin what the text means, a simple paraphrase in prose is sufficient. The versions are not always very literal. Literal translations from Latin hymns would often look odd in English. I have tried to give in a readable, generally rhythmic form the real meaning of the text.”

— Fr. Adrian Fortescue (1913)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “A Canon Choirs Love!”
  • On Mistakes (Part I of II)
  • 19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”
  • “Gregorian Chant Not In Danger Pope Tells French”
  • PDF Download • “O Salutaris” (Modern Setting)

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