Views from the Choir Loft

Christopher Mueller • Article Archive

Christopher Mueller is a church musician, conductor, and composer. He aims to write beautiful music out of gratitude to God, the Author of all beauty.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Christopher Mueller · October 28, 2024

Gasp — Other Sacred Music Websites!

In a show of “web-ecumenism” I’d like to mention five today.

Christopher Mueller · January 4, 2024

Mueller’s Artistic Credo • “Same But Different”

“Variety within a single Mass is important for engaging the listening ears (and singing voices) of the congregation.” —Chris Mueller

Christopher Mueller · June 17, 2023

Richard J. Clark’s “Salve Regina”

“Thanks, Richard, for another accessible and mellifluous motet!” —Chris Mueller

Christopher Mueller · October 6, 2020

(Installment #10) “Catholic Hymnals” • Chris Mueller

Father Rutler makes five crucial points.

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Christopher Mueller · March 30, 2020

Repeating Repertoire? • Christopher Mueller

I’m sure I’m not the only one to feel this way: certain celebrations don’t feel right without “that piece.”

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Christopher Mueller · July 25, 2017

What really happened at the Convocation of Catholic Leaders

Beautiful liturgical music happened—in a hotel ballroom, no less!

Christopher Mueller · April 12, 2016

World Youth Day with polyphony and chant!

Help us bring polyphony and chant to World Youth Day!

Christopher Mueller · February 29, 2016

The Domestic Church and the domestic schola

The family that sings together prays together.

Christopher Mueller · January 6, 2016

On Catholic Art

It’s time to renovate and reoccupy our own tradition!

Christopher Mueller · October 12, 2015

Rediscovering “Musicam Sacram”

I encountered anew this wonderfully clear and concise document about music in the liturgy.

Christopher Mueller · September 21, 2015

A Striking Approach To Performing Gregorian Chant

A commenter had posted, “Their metrical chant is a revelation!” That piqued my curiosity.

Christopher Mueller · September 7, 2015

Liturgy And Diversity

“His answer was surprising to me, and I thought it both prudential and catholic.” —Chris Mueller

Christopher Mueller · January 3, 2013

Biography • Christopher Mueller

Christopher is a church musician, conductor, and composer…

“Music List” • 19th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10 August 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

This Sunday’s Communion Antiphon

This coming Sunday—10 August 2025—is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). The COMMUNION ANTIPHON is really gorgeous, and two of its features are worth mentioning. First of all, the Gospel reading assigned is from Saint Luke, whereas the the antiphon—although it matches the account—comes from Saint Matthew. (If anyone can point to a similar example, please notify me.) Furthermore, if you look at the authentic Gregorian Chant version posted on the feasts website, you’ll notice that it’s MODE III but ends on the ‘wrong’ note. A comparable instance of such a ‘transposed’ chant would be KYRIE IV.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly

Using “Ye” vs. “You” is rather tricky, because it depends upon which era one is trying to recreate—if that makes any sense. In other words, the rules haven’t always been the same for these two. Nevertheless, Father Philip George Caraman (the legendary Jesuit scholar) gives us a masterclass using Saint Luke’s Gospel. Father Caraman was close friends with Monsignor Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, and Sir Alec Guinness.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed