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Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for February 2020

Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2020

Could Pope St. Pius X Sing?

“On 12 March 1908, the complete publication of the Roman Gradual was issued by the Vatican Press. On that very day, Dom Pothier solemnly presented the first copy to the Holy Father. A witness of the audience says that Pius X wished to be the first to see the new book; he opened it at […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2020

Julius Bas Accompaniment

A very prolific harmonizer of Gregorian chant in the early 20th century was Mr. Julius Bas. He often uses a very strange technique, wherein he employs rests to eliminate the Alto, Tenor, and Bass voices. Consider what he did with “Lumen ad revelationem” here: *  JPEG • Lumen ad revelationem It seems quite lazy, and I’ve […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2020

Hitting wrong notes

Fr. Valentine Young, OFM, used to say: “The organist can play 1,000 correct notes and one wrong note—and the only thing people will care about is the wrong note.” Last Sunday I hit some wrong notes, and felt bad. Then I remembered a story about Rudolf Serkin and started to chuckle. Charles Rosen (or was […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 3, 2020

Silence

Saint Peter (II Peter 3:16) says the writings of Saint Paul are extremely difficult to understand—and I Corinthians 14:34-35 seems an example. But I have something else to say about silence in church: it depends upon the time of day. I have responsibility over four (4) Masses each Sunday, and there are “levels” of silence. […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2020

PDF Booklet • Feast of the Purification (2 February)

Better late than never, right?

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2020

Another Purification “Mystery”…

Re: February 2nd in the EF: The following verse was also removed from the 1962 Missale Romanum. Neither does it appear in the 1962 Graduale Romanum of Solesmes: “Vs. Cum indúcerent púerum Jesum parentes ejus, ut fácerent secúndum consuetúdinem legis pro eo, ipse accépit eum in ulnas suas.” It was deleted from the Antiphon “Respónsum […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2020

“Mystery” about the Purification in the Extraordinary Form

From what I can tell, the chant “Exsúrge, Dómine, ádjuva nos”—which formerly was sung while candles were being distributed, toward the end—was removed in 1962. It does not appear in the official 1962 Missale Romanum. Nor does it appear in the 1961 Solesmes Graduale Romanum. The Liber Usualis has it, but it’s well known that […]

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Reminder” — Month of September (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). Since we were founded in 2006, not one of our board members has ever accepted any remuneration whatsoever—not a penny. 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 Download • “Cordero de Dios”
    Feel free to download this setting of the “Cordero de Dios” (AGNUS DEI) in Spanish. The congregation gets an interesting melody within reach, the organist gets a straightforward accompaniment, and the person assembling the ORDER OF WORSHIP gets a ‘ready-to-paste’ plainsong version. Try this setting of the “Santo, Santo, Santo” (SANCTUS) if you desire one that’s easy to sing and includes a simple organ accompaniment. For the record, I have harmonized the Spanish “GLORIA” found in the MISAL ROMANO, Tercera Edición. Click here to download that.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Be Joyful Mary” • Organ Interlude

    Peter Piel (1835–1904), was a Roman Catholic composer named “Royal Music Director” under Wilhelm I, King of Prussia.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Preface of Saint Joseph (added by the pope)

    You can see the “Præfatio de Sancto Joseph” inserted directly into the priest’s missal.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Predictable Rhymes?” • A Follow Up
    We received considerable correspondence regarding my article, Two Ways to Defile a Hymn. More specifically, what really raised certain people’s hackles was its follow-up article dealing with the keyboard accompaniment for the CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL. But to quote Eliza Doolittle: “Have I said anything I oughtn’t?” Please examine this PDF file and see whether you agree. Were the editors of the BRÉBEUF HYMNAL incorrect to insist upon sophisticated and clever rhymes, rather than mind-numbingly predictable rhymes?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘Ould’ But Not Good
    Dom Samuel Gregory Ould (note the spelling) was a Benedictine monk at FORT AUGUSTUS ABBEY in Scotland. As musician, organist, and composer, Dom Ould was highly regarded. Moreover, he was considered an authority on Gregorian Chant. But not everything found in an old book—or, in this case, an “Ould” book—is necessarily praiseworthy. Consider this page from Dom Ould’s hymnal. Do you see the rhymes? They offend severely by ABR (“Abuse By Reuse”) and are utterly predictable. In my recent article—Two Ways to Defile a Hymn—I addressed this topic.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“But of all the influences which have power to restore the past, none works upon us more easily than the gift of song. Among all its mysterious qualities (and it is probably the most mysterious thing in all our common experience) music is distinguished by this, that a tune or a phrase carries with it the associations amidst which it was first, or most familiarly heard. It can bring tears to the eyes, or quicken the action of the heart, by a power not its own; it has roots in the memory.”

— Monsignor Ronnie Knox (1947)

Recent Posts

  • “Reminder” — Month of September (2026)
  • PDF Download • “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” — Simple Organ Interludes (5 pages)
  • Eucharistic Hymn • Skeleton Harmonies (“Simplified”) for Pianists Becoming Organists!
  • PDF Download • “Antiphons Which Are Sung Whilst the Blessed Sacrament Is Exposed”
  • PDF Download • Organ Harmonization for a Splendid Version of “O Salutaris Hostia”

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