Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Like Gold Dust” — Extremely Rare Book of Gregorian Chants (315 pages)

Jeff Ostrowski · October 23, 2024

EADERS WILL WANT to download this stupendously rare book containing 315 pages of Gregorian Chant edited by Canon Ferdinand Tourte (Choirmaster of the famous Cathedral of Verdun) assisted in this work by Monsignor Maurice Kaltnecker (d. 1959). The feast of CHRIST THE KING is fast approaching, and this book—beginning on page 12—contains four (4) versions of “Dignus Est Agnus” I never knew existed. Also in honor of CHRIST THE KING, the book provides intriguing melodies for “Christus Vincit” which I’d never seen before. The holy season of Christmas is also approaching, and the book’s APPENDIX provides a delightful arrangement for two voices of “O Come All Ye Faithful” (in Latin). My choir will be singing this arrangement!

* PDF Download • “Chants Divers” (315 pages)
—Chants Divers Pour Les Saluts Du Très Saint Sacrement (1934).

Remarkable Music • This collection contains magnificent surprises; “Christus Resurréxit” (set to the Christ Ist Erstanden melody which has achieved so much success in the Brébeuf Hymnal); a piece I never knew called “Prostérnimus Preces” for Passiontide; “Vírginis Maríae Laudes” set to the tune of Víctimae Pascháli Laudes; the Marian antiphons set to melodies I’ve never heard before, including two versions of the Salve Regína; special chants for the feast of the PURIFICATION; special chants for Our Lady of Lourdes; hymns for Saint Thomas Aquinas; a special version of “O Salutaris” which is allowed (!) to be sung during the elevation at REQUIEM MASSES; a chant asking the Blessed Mother’s intercession for priestly vocations; and so much more!

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

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” 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

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“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

“Thus, by the celebration of a single Mass (in which he offers Jesus Christ in sacrifice), a priest gives greater honor to the Lord than if all men by dying for God offered to him the sacrifice of their lives. By a single Mass, he gives greater honor to God than all the angels and saints—along with the Blessed Virgin Mary—have given or shall give to him; for their worship cannot be of infinite value, like that which the priest celebrating on the altar offers to God.”

— Saint Alphonsus Liguori