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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

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

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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).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    New Bulletin Article • “21 September 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 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!
    It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies
    Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”
    We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?
    It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Before any seminarian is accepted for ordination, he must not only strive for chastity but actually achieve it. He must already be living chaste celibacy peacefully and for a prolonged period of time—for if this be lacking, the seminarian and his formators cannot have the requisite confidence that he is called to the celibate life.”

— Archbishop Viganò (16 February 2019)

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