Views from the Choir Loft

Andrew Motyka • Article Archive

Andrew Motyka is the Archdiocesan Director of Liturgical Music and Cathedral Music for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Andrew R. Motyka · January 15, 2014

Quick Takes: Saying No

Saying “No” is an important skill for the music director.

Andrew R. Motyka · January 1, 2014

What Hill are You Willing to Die on?

Deciding which principles are deal-breakers.

Andrew R. Motyka · December 25, 2013

Once Upon a Mattress

In which Andrew’s wife Julie writes about the joys of being a music director’s wife at Christmas.

Andrew R. Motyka · December 18, 2013

It’s What We Do

Explaining how to handle death at so many funerals.

Andrew R. Motyka · December 11, 2013

Would You Like Some Cheese with that Whine?

Trying to avoid the temptation to complain.

Andrew R. Motyka · December 4, 2013

Text matters

Everyone should be forced to type the words of the pieces they use.

Andrew R. Motyka · November 20, 2013

Royal Stumbling Blocks

For believers, however, the crucifixion is not a moment of despair, but of triumph. We proudly profess our “weak” Savior, for we know that His weakness was the means of our salvation.

Andrew R. Motyka · November 13, 2013

Gratefulness

Being the first to post about Thanksgiving so now everyone else looks like they’re copying me.

Andrew R. Motyka · November 6, 2013

Juggling Holy Days of Obligation

How the peculiarities of the calendar affect Immaculate Conception this year.

Andrew R. Motyka · October 23, 2013

Precious Rehearsal Time

Spending rehearsal time to save more later.

Andrew R. Motyka · October 16, 2013

Noise Unto the Lord

Thanks for noisy babies at Mass.

Andrew R. Motyka · October 9, 2013

Laws of life

A brief post about basic liturgical theology.

Andrew R. Motyka · September 25, 2013

The Prayers of Children

The repercussions of a childlike faith.

Andrew R. Motyka · September 18, 2013

Sacramental Grace and Intentional Discipleship

How disposition affects our receptivity of grace.

Andrew R. Motyka · September 11, 2013

If the Shoe Fits

In which I hopefully make a point without alienating every Traditionalist in the world.

Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers

In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, 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

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“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

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski