PDF Download • “What Makes A Good Hymn?”

Jeff Ostrowski · February 6, 2020

Dr. Terry says: “The melody must be clearly defined, free from triviality and trite clichés, avoiding harmonies that are sugary or sensuous.”

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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).

Music List • “Ascension of the Lord”

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “For Pentecost Sunday”

There’s a triple ‘allelúja’ and I just love the chord at the end of the 2nd iteration.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”

The following declaration will probably smack of “blowing my own horn.”

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—Jeff Ostrowski

“Thee” + “Thou” + “Thine”

Regarding approval for the “Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition).”

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—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of May (2026)

Since a new month has arrived, it’s my pleasure to remind you that…

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—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)

I don’t care what people say; I love this piece!

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—Jeff Ostrowski

“The Church, which so long had preserved Latin consciously as a bond of unity, had quite suddenly decided to discard it as a useless encumbrance. With this rejection, and as an almost inevitable consequence, went out the window also the whole magnificent musical heritage of the Church. For when you change your language you also change your song. The Jewish exiles hanging their harps beside the waters of Babylon, so long ago, made that discovery.”

— Most Rev’d Robert J. Dwyer, Archbishop of Portland (26 October 1973)

PDF Download • “What Makes A Good Hymn?”

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