Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for August 2024

Veronica Brandt · August 5, 2024

Slavonic Sub Tuum: a 3 part gem of haunting beauty for your choir

An easy-peasy all-year-round Marian motet in three parts plus some reflections on typing up sheet music.

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · August 5, 2024

“Reader Feedback” • 5 August 2024

Mr. RPD wrote: “I write to you regarding your recent release of 483 pages of Plainsong Propers in English, composed by the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood in O’Fallon, Missouri. I attended the English School in Helsinki from 1957 to 1969. The teachers were sisters of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, from O’Fallon, […]

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 4, 2024

“Something Quite Odd” • Today’s Responsorial Psalm

Including a special comparison chart which shows the NAB translation vs. the “Abbey Psalms and Canticles” translation.

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 3, 2024

Music List • (18th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Tomorrow is Sunday, 4 August 2024. Some have expressed interest in seeing my “Order of Music” for tomorrow, which is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. If such a thing be appealing to you, it can be downloaded as a PDF file.

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 2, 2024

PDF Download • “Sanctus” (Roman Missal, 3rd Ed.) in English, Latin, Spanish — Organ Accomp.

You might want to download three PDF files I composed this morning.

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

PDF Download • “Rubric Challenge”

The feast of Corpus Christi is special for TLM altar boys. On that day, two of us thurifers got to walk backwards while using the THURIBLE. (That American custom, if memory serves, is not strictly described in the rubrics.) A few weeks ago on the CCW Facebook Page we posted this screenshot from a 1915 Roman Catholic hymnal. The challenge is to guess what the rubric says, which we blocked from view with a red box. So far, nobody has guessed correctly. Feel free to guess! Our email address and phone number is listed at the bottom of each page.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • “Trinity Sunday” (Year A)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Trinity Sunday—a.k.a. “Dominica I post Pentecosten”—which is 31 May 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if that appeals to you. The hymns chosen are fairly traditional, but truly excellent (the Communion hymn especially stands out). The ENTRANCE CHANT radiates pure bliss, overflowing with joy.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • Feast of Corpus Christi

While simultaneously accompanying myself on the pipe organ, I recently recorded the INTROIT (“Entrance Chant”) for the feast of Corpus Christi, Years ABC. A whole crop of musical scores—which you really should investigate—have found a home at the flourishing feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of June (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). Since we were founded in 2006, not one of our board members has ever accepted any renumeration whatsoever—not a penny. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Thee” + “Thou” + “Thine”

Few musicians realize that various English translations of Sacred Scripture were granted formal approval by the USCCB and the Vatican for liturgical use in the United States of America. But don’t take my word for it! Here are four documents proving this, which you can examine with your own eyes. Some believe the words “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee” were forbidden after Vatican II—but that’s incorrect. For example, they’re found in the English translation of the ‘Our Father’ at Mass. Moreover, the Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) mentioned in those four documents employs “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee.” It was published with a FOREWORD by Westminster’s Roman Catholic Archbishop (John Cardinal Heenan).

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)

I published an article on 11 November 2023 called Wedding March For The Lazy Organist, which rather offhandedly made reference to a simplified version I created in 2007 for Pachelbel’s Canon. I often use it as a PROCESSIONAL for weddings and quinceañeras. Many organists say they “hate” Pachelbel’s Canon. But I love it. I think it’s bright and beautiful. I created that ‘simplified version’ for musicians coming to grips with playing the pipe organ. It can be downloaded as a free PDF if you visit Andrea Leal’s article dated 15 August 2022: Manuals Only: Organ Interludes Based on Plainsong. Specifically, it is page 84 in that collection—generously offered as a free PDF download. Johann Pachelbel (d. 1706) was a renowned German organist, violinist, teacher, and composer of over 500 works. A friend of Bach’s family, he taught Johann Christoph Bach (Sebastian Bach’s eldest brother) and lived in his house. Those who read Pachelbel’s biography will notice his connection to two German cities adopted as famous hymn tune names: EISENACH and ERFURT.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“The sun’s disc did not remain immobile. This was not the sparkling of a heavenly body, for it spun round on itself in a mad whirl, when suddenly a clamor was heard from all the people. The sun, whirling, seemed to loosen itself from the firmament and advance threateningly upon the earth as if to crush us with its huge fiery weight. The sensation during those moments was terrible.”

— ‘Dr. Almeida Garrett, professor of natural sciences at the University of Coimbra (1917)’