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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Guest Author

Guest Author · March 1, 2014

Homily: 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

A homily by Fr. Valentine Young, OFM.

Guest Author · February 28, 2014

Why the Church Is Dying in Latin America

“We need to realize that beauty is essential to any true notion of progress and human development.”

Guest Author · February 19, 2014

Monsignor Francis P. Schmitt—“Put Out To Pastor”

An in depth article about Monsignor Francis P. Schmitt by Andy Baumert.

Guest Author · February 11, 2014

Review by Fr. Justin Nolan, FSSP

“Many parishioners have told me their children especially love following the Mass in this missal because the pictures are so delightful.”

Guest Author · February 7, 2014

On Singing the Passion Gospel for Palm Sunday

This Lent, consider singing the most important Gospel reading of the year. “Free PDF Download Included!”

Guest Author · January 15, 2014

Catholic Youth Choir Releases CD, Prepares For Tour

The Blackstone Valley Catholic Youth Choir, currently preparing for a mid-Atlantic tour, has released a new CD, “Clothed With the Sun.”

Guest Author · November 4, 2013

The Ordinariness of White

Perhaps we are de-sensitized to the symbol, but the color representing the liturgical feast we celebrate today is in fact one of great importance.

Guest Author · November 2, 2013

“In Medio Ecclesiae” Album Release

The Dominican House of Studies schola has just released its first album, In Medio Ecclesiae, under the aegis of the newly founded Dominicana Records. The album is available now for download at www.dominicanablog.com/records; CD purchase coming soon.

Guest Author · October 2, 2013

Impressive New Hymnal for the Divine Office

A guest article by Br. Dominic Verner O.P.

Guest Author · September 9, 2013

New Gregorian Chant Project Needs Your Support!

Chant is beautiful, stunning, transcendent. Yet do we really know how it sounded centuries ago? Can we, by carefully listening, appreciate the differences between the modes?

Guest Author · August 12, 2013

The first ever Graduale Romanum in English?

Deacon Cunningham was responsible for an early effort to “English” the Roman Gradual, as Msgr. Schmitt would say.

Guest Author · July 8, 2013

Thousands of Gospel Acclamations for Organ & Voice

A word and a request regarding the musical arrangements by Jon Naples on the Garnier Gospel Acclamations website.

Guest Author · June 17, 2013

Music Delivered A Young Boy From Dispair

“My father had no job and a daily passion for beer. The situation was hopeless for both him and his seven children. When I was 11 years old, Catholic Charities intervened. They split us up, and sent five of us kids to foster homes, and my older brother Mike and I to Boys Town.”

Guest Author · June 12, 2013

Responsorial Psalms & Gospel Acclamations

“It is true that the use of the ancient psalm tones for texts in English has been a matter of recent debate, some asserting that it is not possible to fit the cadences of the Gregorian tones . . .”

Guest Author · June 10, 2013

The Story Behind The Code

A guest article by Benjamin Bloomfield about a new Gregorian chant tool.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
    In 2003, I copied a book by Félix Bélédin (d. 1895), who was titular organist—from 1841 to 1874—at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Lyon (France). In 2008, we scanned and uploaded the book to the Lalande Online Library. Nobody knows for sure when the book was published; some believe it first appeared in the 1840s. In any event, one who examines this excerpt, showing GLORIA IX might wonder why it says the organ answers in plainsong. However, the front of the book explains, telling the organist explicitly when to “respond in plainchant.” This is something called organ alternatim. Believe it or not, the pipe organ would take turns with the choir, playing certain texts instrumentally instead of having them sung. I’m not very well-versed in this—pardon the pun—but if memory serves, ORGAN ALTERNATIM was frowned upon by the time of Pope Saint Pius X. Nevertheless, French organists kept doing it, even after it was explicitly condemned as an abuse.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Traditionally, this Sunday was called ‘Passion’ Sunday. Starting in 1956, certain church leaders attempted rename both ‘Passion’ Sunday and ‘Palm’ Sunday—but it didn’t work. For example, Monsignor Frederick McManus tried to get people to call PALM SUNDAY “Second Passion Sunday”—but the faithful rejected that. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

On 12 March 1908, Feast of St. Gregory the Great, the complete publication of the “Graduale” was issued by the Vatican Press. That very day, Dom Pothier solemnly presented the first copy to the Holy Father. Pius X wished to be the first to see the new book; he opened it at random, at page 128 of the supplement “pro aliquibus locis”—the Introit of the new Feast of Our lady of Lourdes. The Pope sang it with perfect taste to the last note.

— A witness of the papal audience writing circa 1915

Recent Posts

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  • Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
  • “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
  • “Versions of the Psalter” • Jeff Interviews Top Biblical Scholar: Dr. Mark Giszczak

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