Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for November 2022

Jeff Ostrowski · November 9, 2022

“Vatican Commission on Gregorian Chant” • Biographies for Its Twenty Members

Including two (2) documents translated into English for the first time!

Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2022

“Whoever controls the language controls the Masses.”

“Missa Back-To-The-Future” (a recent OCP offering) isn’t part of the treasury mandated by Vatican II; nor do I belong on the basketball court with Michael Jordan.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 5, 2022

Remembering Mr. Tom Savoy • “Requiescat in pace.”

Tom died suddenly on 24 October 2022 (a month shy of his 67th birthday) at his home in Charlotte.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 5, 2022

4 November 2022 • “Don’t forget!”

Monthly reminder to all: please subscribe to our free mailing list! It couldn’t be easier: (a) Go to any article; (b) Scroll to the bottom; (c) Enter your email address. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment; we have no major donors; we run no advertisements; we have no savings. […]

Patrick Williams · November 4, 2022

Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Doubled Notes”

“We have a number of quotations from medieval writers in support of proportional rhythm…” —Patrick Williams

Patrick Williams · November 3, 2022

Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Patrick’s First Response to Jeff” • (3 Nov 2022)

“Mr. Ostrowski apparently wants to lock this door, install a deadbolt, and throw away both keys!” —Patrick Williams

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 3, 2022

“Now Available!” • Campion Missal (3rd Edition)

Three words: “Sleek, Powerful, and Gorgeous”

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 2, 2022

“Death stops us; it stops our race.” —Saint Newman

“They were parents, brothers, sisters, children, and friends; but the bond of the kindred is broken, and the silver cord of love is loosed…” —John Henry Newman

Jeff Ostrowski · November 1, 2022

“Gregorian Chant Rhythm Wars” • Ostrowski Vs. Williams

My colleague, Patrick Williams has agreed to enter into a “colloquy” with me vis-à-vis Gregorian rhythm.

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Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers

In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski

“In chronological order, [Dom Pierre Combe] traces the Gregorian reform from its beginnings under Dom Guéranger in 1833, to the problems of the Vatican Commission on Sacred Music in the first decade of the 20th century. As one reads the topic headings and development of their content, one wonders how such an innocent and un-warlike subject such as Gregorian chant could have been the focal point of such an intense and continuing battle among scholars and churchmen for so many decades.”

— Dr. Theodore Marier (1968)