• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Feasts Website
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Can I Just Say?

Corrinne May · June 28, 2024

FTER READING the excellent essay by my colleague, Veronica Moreno, I felt compelled to post this article. Can I just say that, everything I know about Sacred Music I know because of Jeff Ostrowski. Back in 2017, when I first joined the choir he directed for the FSSP in Los Angeles, I was amazed with what the volunteer choir could sing. Motets by Victoria, works by Palestrina, Kevin Allen pieces, Mass settings by Guerrero … I could not believe what I was hearing from the voices gathered each week at choir. Many of the choristers could not read music. How were they doing this?

Secret Plan For Each Piece • Jeff would painstakingly record choir videos with each individual vocal part. He was passionate about taking each piece that he taught us and breaking it down so that we could systematically learn all the nuances and all the challenges of each piece—in ‘bite sized’ portions—so that when everything was strung together the whole piece would be resplendent and every choir member would wonder at how we managed to sing these complicated-yet-sublime pieces.

Searching Relentlessly • Jeff was always thinking about how to get the choir to learn the best pieces of Sacred Music. He reveled in the beauty of ancient music manuscripts. His enthusiasm and wonderment at the scope and treasury of the Sacred Music of our Catholic Church was infectious!

Humour His Hallmark • Jeff would inject humour with his lessons. Not a single rehearsal was ever boring. He had us leaning in, listening to his instructions, singing … and laughing. He would make up the most incredulous nicknames for each choir member and have us giggling in glee. We had so much fun learning the most difficult pieces … ever!

Jeff Taught Us To Pray • The choir room was packed every Thursday evening from 7:00PM to 9:00PM. He taught us to pray, he taught us about heroic saints, he taught us about solfège, he taught us about how to swell into each phrase, how to blend with each other, how to enunciate the words of the hymns. He taught us about liturgical history, the church … Jeff is a living encyclopedia of everything in Sacred Music, Church history, and everything else in between. I do not understand how he manages to get so much information into his brain. I am flabbergasted at his genius, his humility, and his musicality. I am awed by how he manages to do so much—yet still lives his life as a loving husband to his wife and a doting father to his 3 children.

Heart Of A Teacher • Jeff Ostrowski has the heart of a teacher. I remember him instructing me how to accompany on the pipe organ (for Sunday vespers) and how to make the transitions between antiphon and verses.* He taught me that there was no shame in using the pedal coupler from time to time, especially when one had to play the organ and conduct the choir. Before I joined the choir, I’m told they sometimes had to rehearse in a parking lot. The choir room where our choir sang was minuscule: imagine a room the size of a medium garage for two cars … holding 45 choristers each week, plus the organ! He gave me the chance—or should I say gave me no choice in the matter?—to conduct the choir, to cantor on the KYRIE ELEYSON with different Mass settings, to play the organ for ‘In Dulci Jubilo’, to sing Gregorian Chant in tenor voice with the Schola Cantorum… He gave me the confidence to do so and I’ll forever be grateful. I shall always remember his sayings: “There is no ‘Inn’ in Latihn” he would proclaim week after week, to get the choristers to pronounce their Latin words properly. (In other words, the Italianate pronunciation adopted by the Church must be adhered to.) I have caught myself saying the same thing to the choir that I help to direct now in Singapore. Here’s a picture of me directing in Singapore, and if you look very closely at the music stand (and read my ‘addendum’ below) you’ll understand why I posted this:

I’m Not One To Exaggerate • Everything that I am teaching my choir, in Singapore, I learnt first, from my good friend, my good teacher, my sacred music mentor, Jeff Ostrowski. Those 6 years that I spent in the choir with the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter learning under the choral and music direction of Jeff were some of the best times I’ve had learning music in my life. By the way, I don’t say this lightly. As a singer-songwriter, I value words. I am not one to exaggerate. The choir in Los Angeles has lost a great talent in Jeff.

But, dear Jeff, at your new position in Michigan may you continue to bring the beauty of Sacred Music to more and more parishes and people for the sake of the Glory of God and for the Truth of His Holy Catholic Church. Thank you my dear friend!

Addendum • Jeff taught us hundreds of different pieces. One was his arrangement of the Adoremus In Aeternum by Father Francisco Guerrero. I recently directed that piece for the TOTUS TUUS APOSTOLATE in Singapore:

Here’s the direct URL link.

* Jeff found out I could play the pipe organ because one day I asked him what he was listening to in his free time. He replied, “on the way here I was listening to one of my favorite pieces: Sebastian Bach’s Saint Anne Prelude and Fugue in Eb Major.” I told him I was studying that piece, and had recently recorded it—and I remember seeing his jaw drop!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: June 29, 2024

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Corrinne May

Corrinne May is one of Singapore’s most celebrated singer-songwriters. She is also a wife and homeschooling mother.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 26 October 2025, which is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Little Encouragement?
    In the Gospel, our Savior tells about 10 lepers who were healed. Only one went back to give thanks. Precious few express gratitude, yet many have endless energy to complain. For that reason, I deeply appreciate receiving messages like the following, which arrived a few days ago (about the parish where I direct in Michigan): “Last Sunday, a couple I knew from Grand Rapids was at Mass at 10:00 a.m. I got a chance to talk to them after Mass. I wanted to let you know what they said about the choir. They were absolutely floored by our sound!!!!! They both said they could continuously listen to our choir and the beauty of it. They asked me: “Do you always sound like that?” And they were also very surprised at how packed the church was. They said it was nice for them to be in such a full church. I just thought you would be interested to know their thoughts about our choir.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The “Nova Organi Harmonia” demanded from each of us an unusual commitment; we have dedicated to it the best of our energies. Would it be, therefore, presumptuous on our part to be satisfied with the result and to expect its welcome reception in the musical world?

— Msgr. Jules Van Nuffel (circa 1940)

Recent Posts

  • A Practical Method of Projecting Solfege for Chant
  • PDF Downloads • Four (4) Simple Pieces in Harmony for Men’s Choirs
  • Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
  • “Music List” • 30th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.