Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Booklet • Feast of the Purification (2 February)

Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2020

HAVE created a printable booklet for the Feast of the Purification “Pre-Mass” Blessing of Candles, Distribution of Candles, and Procession. One of the reasons it took longer than it should have is because the 1962 Missale Romanum deleted bits and pieces—here and there—for no apparent reason. I hope you’ll let me know of any errors you find:

* PDF Download • Booklet for the Procession
—This 8-page booklet contains the chants and rubrics for “Pre-Mass”.

The rest of the chants for the Mass—score, videos, Mp3 files, and so on—can be downloaded here:

* Saint René Goupil Website

Here is an example of what you’ll find there:

These documents support my “booklet” for the Blessing of Candles:

* PDF • Candlemas 1962 Rubrics (official)
—A document in Latin containing the official rubrics from the 1962 Missal.

* PDF Download • Dom Pothier’s 1896 Liber Usualis
—Published about 10 years before the Editio Vaticana.

* PDF Download • 1903 Liber Usualis (Dom Mocquereau)
—This is not the official edition, which is called the Editio Vaticana.

* PDF Download • Candlemas in the Solesmes Graduale (1908)
—This is the Editio Vaticana with rhythmic markings by Dom Mocquereau.

* PDF • Candlemas 1957 Rubrics & Plainsong
—This document is useful because of the English translations.

* PDF • Fulton Sheen Sunday Missal (1961)
—The editor was Fr. Philip George Caraman (d. 1998).

* PDF • Saint Edmund Campion Missal (©2012)
—These Candlemas pages come from the Saint Edmund Campion Missal.

I found this in a Roman Catholic Missal from 1806, printed in London for use of the laity:

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

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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 Download • “Atténde Dómine”

Although it isn’t nearly as ancient as other hymns in the plainsong repertoire, Atténde Dómine, et miserére, quía peccávimus tíbi (“Look down, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee”) has become one of the most popular hymns for LENT—perhaps because it was included in the famous Liber Usualis of Solesmes. This musical score (PDF file) has an incredibly accurate version in English, as well as a nice version in Spanish, and also the original Latin. Although I don’t claim to have a great singing voice, this morning I recorded this rehearsal video.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (1st Sunday of Lent)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for this coming Sunday—22 February 2026—the 1st Sunday of Lent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the outstanding feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. I spent an enormous amount of time preparing this ORDER OF MUSIC—because the children’s choir will join us—and some of its components came out great. For example, the COMMUNION ANTIPHON with Fauxbourdon is utterly resplendent, yet still ‘Lenten’.

—Jeff Ostrowski

2-Voice Arrangement for Lent

Those seeking a two-voice arrangement for LENT and PASSIONTIDE should click here and scroll down. It’s based on number 775 in the Brébeuf Hymnal, with an enchanting melody written by Kevin Allen (the legendary American composer of sacred music). That text—“Pendens In Crucis Cornibus”—is often used for the Feast of our Lady of Sorrows. That link is important because, in addition to the musical score, it provides free rehearsal videos for each individual voice: something volunteer choirs appreciate!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of Febr. (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

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski