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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for April 2023

Jeff Ostrowski · April 30, 2023

My Student Singing Byrd Will Make You Weep!

Today we release polyphony by two composers: William Byrd and William Fritz.

Keven Smith · April 29, 2023

Conducting Tip: Use the Whole Body

Are you aware of your legs? And do you know why that matters for a choir conductor?

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · April 29, 2023

Photograph • Pope Saint Paul VI Distributes Holy Communion (Kneeling, On The Tongue)

How dare we—who are so sinful—how dare we receive our Lord?

Jeff Ostrowski · April 29, 2023

Introit • “Jubiláte Déo” (3rd Sunday after Easter)

Sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 27, 2023

PDF Download • “English Hymns for Three Voices” (SSA), edited by Dr. Theodore Marier—182 pages

My choir will definitely be using these settings. They’re something many have begged for!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 27, 2023

FEEDBACK • 26 April 2023

A reader wrote to us about the MELCOMBE HYMN ARTICLE (whose official title was: 1950s Catholicism: Do We Want It Back?) with these kind words: “I so wish there was a CD of your choir. The Introit the other day stays with me all day!”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 26, 2023

“1950s Catholicism” • Do We Want It Back?

“I have found, to my astonishment, that Catholics…in their principal churches, do not to this day possess even one Mass setting even tolerably good, or which is not actually distasteful and operatic.” —Felix Mendelssohn (1835)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 24, 2023

It’s Coming!

The draft booklet (320 pages) which will—in a gorgeous hard-copy—be given to participants at the Sacred Music Symposium has been released. If you see any typos, please let me know ASAP. Thank you!

Daniel Tucker · April 23, 2023

Five Ways to Celebrate the Octave of Pentecost

For most Novus Ordo-going Catholics, myself included, the Octave of Pentecost is no longer officially part of the Church’s liturgical calendar, but here are five fitting ideas for extending the joy of Pentecost throughout the week.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 22, 2023

PDF Download • Draft Copy — “2023 Symposium Booklet” (320 Pages)

I will never forget standing in that green room, waiting to go on stage.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 22, 2023

FEEDBACK • “Soul Was Craving”

I got this (personal) message from a choir member. I know we usually avoid sharing personal items, but hopefully this exception is warranted: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, I read your recent article, “I Came From Somewhere.” I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you for all that you do. I appreciate your sentiments and your work to […]

Jeff Ostrowski · April 17, 2023

“I Came From Somewhere” • (So Did You!)

Including a haunting hymn by Flor Peeters for Eastertide.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 14, 2023

“Quasi Modo” • Introit for this coming Sunday.

I’m desperately in need of this book!

Guest Author · April 13, 2023

Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “The Hidden Dactyl”

“Perhaps surprisingly, not one word of three syllables in the ancient Easter sequence ‘Laudes Salvatori voce’ is sung to the rhythm of a dactyl.” —Alasdair Codona

Jeff Ostrowski · April 12, 2023

“Regína Caéli Laetáre” • 18 organ accompaniments

Plainsong sung poorly—in a sluggish, lifeless manner—can leave a bad taste in people’s mouths.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • (4th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 4th Sunday of Lent (15 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has sublime propers. It is most often referred to as “Lætare Sunday” owing to its INTROIT. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Communion (4th Snd. Lent)
    The COMMUNION ANTIPHON for this coming Sunday, which is the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A), is particularly beautiful. There’s something irresistible about this tone; it’s neither happy nor sad. As always, I encourage readers to visit the flourishing feasts website, where the complete Propria Missae may be downloaded free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Good Friday Flowers
    Good Friday has a series of prayers for various parties: the pope, catechumens, pagans, heretics, schismatics, and so forth. In the old liturgical books, there was no official ‘name’ for these prayers. (This wasn’t unusual as ‘headers’ and ‘titles’ for each section is a rather modern idea.) The Missal simply instructed the priest to go to the Epistle side and begin. In the SHERBORNE MISSAL, each prayer begins with a different—utterly spectacular—flower. This PDF file shows the first few prayers. Has anyone counted the ‘initial’ drop-cap flowers in the SHERBORNE MISSAL? Surely there are more than 1,000.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)
    Some consider Songs of Syon (1910) the greatest Episcopalian hymnal ever printed. As a Roman Catholic, I have no right to weigh in one way or the other. However, this particular page has me stumped. I just know I’ve heard that tune somewhere! If you can help, please email me. I’m talking about the text which begins: “This is the day the Lord hath made; In unbeclouded light array’d.” The book is by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and its complete title is: Songs of Syon: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Back in 2016, Corpus Christi Watershed scanned and uploaded this insanely rare book. For years our website was the sole place one could download it as a PDF file.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation
    It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to higher things.”

— Vatican II Council

Recent Posts

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