Views from the Choir Loft

Alfred Calabrese • Article Archive

Dr. Alfred Calabrese is a conductor, educator, composer, scholar, and church musician. Having worked in academia for two decades, he felt called to enter full-time work in the Catholic Church, and since 2007 has directed the music at Saint Rita Catholic Church. He and his wife live in Dallas, TX. They have two grown children. —Read full biography (with photographs).

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · January 30, 2018

Repetition at the School Mass: “Do it again!”

Grown up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · November 8, 2017

The Real Reason We Sing

Let’s not make this about ourselves.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · September 18, 2017

Five Ways To Make Dogma “Live Loudly Within You”

Thank you, Senator Feinstein!

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · May 25, 2017

Josquin Desprez • A Marian Masterpiece

Josquin surely belongs in the pantheon of history’s most important composers.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · May 3, 2017

Kids Are Colorblind But Adults Are Not

Adults with an agenda teach children their own biases.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · April 27, 2017

Is This Any Way to Pray at Mass?

My daughter freaked out when I told her this.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · February 23, 2017

7 Points • “The Joy of Lent”

Does Lent really put people in a bad mood?

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · February 16, 2017

The Pedagogy of the School Mass Liturgy

The weekly school Mass may be the only Mass some students ever attend.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · December 1, 2016

Nostalgia Is Not Rigid

I don’t think young people (or most people, frankly) are drawn to the pre-conciliar Mass because of nostalgia.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · August 31, 2016

Has Our Catholic Culture Been Completely Dismantled?

Art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · June 30, 2016

The Positive Impact Of Parish Events

These things must begin at the parish level.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · March 10, 2016

Has The Church Rejected Her Inheritance?

The richness of liturgy and music should never be abandoned.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · January 18, 2016

May 2016 • Major Choral Event In Dallas!

A tremendously exciting moment in the Catholic musical world!

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · January 7, 2016

The Theology of a C-sharp Minor Chord

Every time I listen to this piece I’m still shocked.

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · December 17, 2015

An Antidote For Clericalism: Sung Vespers

The public singing of Vespers is an antidote to the kind of clericalism frequently condemned by Pope Francis.

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—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