Views from the Choir Loft

“Sacred Music Pilgrimage to Italy” with Grace Feltoe

Guest Author · November 27, 2025

O YOU FEEL a desire to immerse yourself in the rich tradition and history of the Church through sacred song … in Italy? Father Lukasz Misko, OP, president of the Dominican Liturgical Centre in Krakow, Poland, and Grace Feltoe, founder of The Musica Sacra Project, would like to invite you to a sacred music pilgrimage to Italy this spring, experiencing the Eternal City, Orvieto and Assisi through sacred song. Enjoy and be a part of:

* Daily sung Mass and Liturgy of the Hours
* Visit the great pilgrimage sights of Italy
* Participate in introductory workshops learning the basics of chant and singing
* Enjoy sacred music concerts, including a concert by organist Davide Bucci and soprano Grace Feltoe, at Basilica de Santi XII Apostoli
* Have a tour of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music with Father Robert Mehlhart, OP
* Delve into the beauty of Gregorian chant, hymns and sacred music to enrich your faith through music and prayer at historic and spiritual epicenters of our Faith.

How to book and all other information can be found via the link below:

* https://www.206tours.com/cms/sacredmusic/

And did we forget they’ll be great Italian food!

We hope you enjoyed this guest article by Grace Feltoe.

Grace Feltoe is an Australian/Maltese soprano and sacred music specialist, from Perth, Western Australia. She studied at the University of Western Australia majoring in Music Studies and Specialist Music Studies (Piano Performance), which included strong choral and vocal training in the English tradition, leading to professional ensembles. From 2015, Grace assumed the role of cantor for various parishes in Perth, including St Mary’s Cathedral, St Patrick’s Basilica, St Paul’s Church, Divine Mercy Church, and New Norcia Benedictine Monastery, with whom she released a sacred music CD ‘Adoro Te’, with Father Robert Nixon, OSB.

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

‘German’ Introductions for Hymns

German organ books have an enchanting habit of including introductions for each and every hymn. For example, consider this snazzy example found in a German hymnal published in 1902. In the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal, that melody is called “Laudes Mariae” and was married to Omni Die Dic Mariae, with a popular English translation (“Daily, daily, sing to Mary”) by Father Henry Bittleston, an Oratorian priest. Notice they also added a ‘tailpiece’ or ‘playout’ or postlude at the end—a very German thing to do!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Buckfast Abbey Weighs In

Dom John Stéphan was a Benedictine monk of Buckfast Abbey in South Devon, England. On 4 February 1933, he published this interesting letter in THE TABLET. Have you seen the exterior of Buckfast Abbey? It’s beyond gorgeous. I doubt there’s a more arresting Abbey in the entire world. Dom Stéphan’s letter is concerning this momentous collection, which our organization obtained, scanned, and uploaded.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Responsorial Psalm Fauxbourdon?

When it comes to singing Responsorial Psalms in Fauxbourdon, what does this sound like in practice? Can such a thing be done successfully with volunteer choirs in real Catholic parishes? Listen to this audio excerpt from Good Friday and see what you think. Our parish volunteer choir did so well this year—and the ceremonies were ‘standing room only’. For the record, that musical score can be downloaded (completely free of charge) from the flourishing feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)

On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026

How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski