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Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for December 2025

Jeff Ostrowski · December 11, 2025

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

Readers have expressed interest in examining the “music list” I prepared for the 4th Sunday of Advent.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 11, 2025

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

A brief, bright, stately setting.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 10, 2025

Crucial Tips • “Teaching Children How to Sing”

When it comes to the children, I help them memorize each word…

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 10, 2025

Soloists in Gregorian Chant?

An “ensemble of soloists” will never sound the same as a true choir.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 9, 2025

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe?

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 7, 2025

“Alma Redemptóris Mater” • Everything There Is To Know About This Marian Antiphon

Including a new harmonization for the pipe organ.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 6, 2025

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Simplified keyboard accompaniment for “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (Advent hymn).

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Corpus Christi Watershed · December 6, 2025

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, the pope said…

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Corpus Christi Watershed · December 5, 2025

(5 Dec. 2025) • Pope Leo XIV Speaks on Liturgical Music

“In the liturgy, in particular, singing is never a ‘soundtrack’, a simple backdrop, but is intended to lift the soul…” —Pope Leo XIV

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 4, 2025

PDF • “Music List” (Immaculate Concep.)

Readers have expressed interest in examining the music list I prepared for 8 December (“In Conceptione Immaculata Beatae Mariae Virginis”).

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Mark Haas · December 3, 2025

PDF Downloads • 5 Simple Palestrina Pieces

A collection of Palestrina works that are not only stunningly beautiful but also surprisingly accessible.

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Dr. Alfred Calabrese · December 2, 2025

Dr. Alfred Calabrese • “My Invitation To You”

EWTN will broadcast the Mass later on that same evening.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 1, 2025

“Reminder” — Month of December (2025)

Since a new month has arrived, it’s my pleasure to remind you that…

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 1, 2025

PDF Download • Agnus Dei Polyphonic “Choral Extension” (Simple Round by Ravenscroft)

It’s hard to banish that round once it enters your ears!

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Calling Dr. Weaver!

    A remarkable exposition of the “mora vocis” (published in 1953 in the Netherlands) which doesn’t shy away from a certain item!

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    SLANE • “Simplified” Keyboard Arr.

    Do you know ‘SLANE’ the hymn tune?

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Insane Baroque-Era Dissonance!
    The sumptuous melody called “JESU LEIDEN PEIN UND TOD” appears no fewer than three times in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal and is harmonized with standard Common Practice Era SATB voice leading and harmonies (which is only natural). However, one who takes the time to examine what Sebastian Bach did with that tune will encounter an incredibly dissonant sound. As far as I’m concerned, there is no more dissonant sound—in the entire Baroque era—than what I highlighted in yellow on that excerpt. Please let me know if you disagree.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    ‘Ould’ But Not Good
    Dom Samuel Gregory Ould (note the spelling) was a Benedictine monk at FORT AUGUSTUS ABBEY in Scotland. As musician, organist, and composer, Dom Ould was highly regarded. Moreover, he was considered an authority on Gregorian Chant. But not everything found in an old book—or, in this case, an “Ould” book—is necessarily praiseworthy. Consider this page from Dom Ould’s hymnal. Do you see the rhymes? They offend severely by ABR (“Abuse By Reuse”) and are utterly predictable. In my recent article—Two Ways to Defile a Hymn—I addressed this topic.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reader Feedback” • 22 June 2026
    A reader wrote to us from Virginia: “I really appreciate the 23 harmonizations that you posted on CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED for the Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary hymn. I hope to find willing voices in our small Schola Cantorum to try the three-voice version. Carry on, sir! You’re doing the Lord’s work.” While we don’t know this gentleman personally, we note that he earned a Ph.D. (which demonstrates that our blog has something for everybody). 😊
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Time and Again We Are Asked…
    John Baptist Singenberger (d. 1924) was a central figure of Catholic Church music. In this utterly fascinating excerpt (Single-Page PDF), Singenberger writes: Time and again we are asked: “Is the Gregorian chant to be accompanied by the organ?” As a young student in Saint Gall, Singenberger befriended SEBASTIAN GEBHARD MESSMER, the future Archbishop of Milwaukee (Wisconsin). The two graduated together in 1861. The school they attended (Saint George’s Seminary) was a “seminary”—but in the older European sense. In other words, it provided a classical education without necessarily leading to ordination. Singenberger remained a layman his whole life, but Messmer was eventually made archbishop—by Pope Saint Pius X—of the very archdiocese in Wisconsin where Singenberger would spend his American career, giving him a powerful ecclesiastical ally.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Taking into account the “barrenness of the times” and the fact that Father Francisco Guerrero is scarcely able to feed his choirboys, the chapter decides (by a close vote) to give him money to buy new robes, surplices, and caps for his six young charges.

— Resolution: 14 February 1562

Recent Posts

  • Why I Never Write Articles for Corpus Christi Watershed Anymore
  • Calling Dr. Weaver!
  • “A Catholic Choir Director’s Decalogue” • Jeff’s Personal Odyssey (10 Points)
  • SLANE • “Simplified” Keyboard Arr.
  • “Taking Over an Inner City School Choir” • Rebecca’s Story

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