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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for September 2021

Jeff Ostrowski · September 28, 2021

28 September 2021 • FEEDBACK

From a reader: “I have read the pages explaining the Blessed Sacrament in the Brébeuf hymnal and plan on continuing to contemplate them. Moreover, the Christ the King Hymn is beautifully sung on the recording you posted (to the Watershed blog), and I wish my church would sing these hymns instead of modern ones from […]

Jeff Ostrowski · September 28, 2021

PDF Download • “Can A Hymnal Be Too Catholic?”

Can Protestant translations be dangerous? This paper presents items worth considering.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 28, 2021

“Catholic Sensibility” • What Makes A Hymnal Catholic?

I personally find the following pairings (hymn text + hymn melody) to be reprehensible…

Jeff Ostrowski · September 28, 2021

Gregorian Chant • Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

From a rare book of Franciscan chants (1902)

Jeff Ostrowski · September 27, 2021

New CD release from the FSSP in Europe!

Christmas Matins from Bavaria…

Jeff Ostrowski · September 26, 2021

“Salve Regina” • Organ Accompaniment

Readers already realize that seventeen (17) splendid organ accompaniments for the simple “Salve Regina” can be freely and conveniently downloaded here. But what about the solemn tone for the “Salve Regina”—has anyone composed an organ accompaniment for that? Yes, Canon Jules Van Nuffel has composed one for the solemn version.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 24, 2021

“Easy Polyphonic Agnus Dei” • Part 3 of 3

The ability of your singers to sight-read music instantly does not guarantee a good performance.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 24, 2021

“A Tale Of Two Missals”

Sometimes words are superfluous. Sometimes no commentary is needed. If you look at this Tale of Two Missals (PDF)—which compares the Canon from the “Modern” ICEL Missal with a “Dark Ages” Missal, I think you will understand exactly what I’m getting at.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 23, 2021

23 September 2021 • FEEDBACK

From a reader: “Corpus Christi Watershed is the greatest musical organization ever created in the Church!”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 21, 2021

Church “Narthex” • What’s that?

Do you know what the church narthex is? It’s kind of like a separate room, blocked off by a wall. A buddy of mine (sitting in the narthex) took some iPhone recordings of our congregation singing Vespers. Here’s how they sound sans organ. [Note: Whenever I play for Vespers, I make sure to have some […]

Jeff Ostrowski · September 21, 2021

“A Truly Eucharistic Hymn” • Christ the King (SATB)

Did Vatican II “restore” the hymns—as mandated by §93 of Sacrosanctum Concilium?

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 19, 2021

Clarion Call To All Choirmasters! • (26 Sept.)

Forty images of (IMHO) the patron saints of church musicians.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 18, 2021

“Homily for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM

“In our day and age I think it is good that we all be reminded that Christ will eventually overcome his enemies.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 16, 2021

16 September 2021 • Fulton J. Sheen

Here is a photo of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen celebrating Mass in Jerusalem. That image was included in the “Fulton J. Sheen Sunday Missal” (1961), which was edited by Father Caramen and has an IMPRIMATUR by William Cardinal Godfrey, who served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1956 until his death in 1963. The Fulton Sheen […]

Jeff Ostrowski · September 16, 2021

15 September 2021 • Offertory Problem

I submit to you that nothing is gained by these slight variations in the repeats for the Epipany Offertory. The edition is by Carl Ott, a musicologist. Almost nothing is about Carl Ott—as far as I can tell, nobody even knows when Carl Ott was born or when Carl Ott died.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 14, 2021

PDF Download • Three Myths About Hymns

Did you know Catholics began translating hymns from Latin into the vernacular about 400 years before the Protestant Revolution?

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Dr. Gregory Hamilton · September 10, 2021

Reflections On A Prophetic Document

There is much here to contemplate, written by a man with a deep reverence for the Sacred Liturgy and Music of the church…

Jeff Ostrowski · September 10, 2021

[re-post] • “Hymn for the Feast of All Saints”

All Saints—November 1st—will be here before you know it!

Jeff Ostrowski · September 8, 2021

PDF Download • “Old Catholic Missal” (1909) … for the Schismatic “See of Utrecht”

Readers will enjoy perusing this book.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 8, 2021

A Truly Insane Liturgical Practice

In 2013, I began speaking of an insane liturgical practice which was allowed by Pope Pius XII—but nobody realizes this. If you tried to do this at the Traditional Latin Mass, you would most likely be run out of town on a rail. However, for the record, the FULTON SHEEN MISSAL (edited by Father Caraman) […]

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Quick Thoughts

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Some of our younger parish clergy read their sermons. This should not be done except for some very special reason. The priest who is not capable of preparing and delivering a brief, clear instruction on Catholic teaching to his people is not fit to be in parish work. The people as a rule do not want to listen to a sermon reader.”

— Archbishop of Baltimore (9 July 1929)

Recent Posts

  • “I Decided to Get a Plane Ticket and Fly 8,700 Miles From Singapore to Take Part.”
  • Alabama Assessment!
  • “How Has Nobody Done This Before?” • Vol. 1
  • “Exceeded Every Expectation!” • Mr. O’Brien’s Review
  • “81 Photos” • Sacred Music Symposium 2022

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