Views from the Choir Loft

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Guest Author · May 13, 2013

New Collection Of Ancient Books About The Mass . . . Free!

Incarnation Catholic Church in Tampa, has begun an initiative to build an E-Library dedicated to building a library of out-of-print books about the Traditional Latin Mass.

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Guest Author · May 4, 2013

Josquin’s Beautiful “Missa Pange Lingua” In Minnesota

St. Benedict Catholic Church in Duluth, Minnesota, will be hosting a Solemn High Mass (traditional Latin Mass), celebrated by the parish pastor, Father Eric Hastings, for the Ascension on Thursday evening at 7 p.m.

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Guest Author · April 2, 2013

Thoughtful Article On Hymns By Fr. Mark Woodruff

“Professor László Dobzay, writing from a classic Latin Catholic perspective, has made constructive proposals for a re-integration and mutual perfection of the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Roman Rite.” — Fr. Woodruff

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Guest Author · March 29, 2013

Sacred Choral Program (Living Water College)

“Open your soul to truth and beauty this Summer. Expand your mind, build your repertoire of church music, and enter into Mass more profoundly than you may have thought possible.” — Ms. Nicole Dunn, Alberta (Canada)

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Guest Author · November 19, 2012

Young Catholic Musicians

A guest article by Mr. Gary Penkala.

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Guest Author · October 18, 2011

The title you choose must not be extremely long

This should be a (relatively short) sentence designed to make people want to read your blog. It can have some “shock value” … but don’t go crazy!

Music List • “Ascension of the Lord”

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “For Pentecost Sunday”

There’s a triple ‘allelúja’ and I just love the chord at the end of the 2nd iteration.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”

The following declaration will probably smack of “blowing my own horn.”

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—Jeff Ostrowski

“Thee” + “Thou” + “Thine”

Few musicians realize that various English translations of Sacred Scripture were granted formal approval by the USCCB and the Vatican for liturgical use in the United States of America. But don’t take my word for it! Here are four documents proving this, which you can examine with your own eyes. Some believe the words “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee” were forbidden after Vatican II—but that’s incorrect. For example, they’re found in the English translation of the ‘Our Father’ at Mass. Moreover, the Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) mentioned in those four documents employs “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee.” It was published with a FOREWORD by Westminster’s Roman Catholic Archbishop (John Cardinal Heenan).

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of May (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)

I published an article on 11 November 2023 called Wedding March For The Lazy Organist, which rather offhandedly made reference to a simplified version I created in 2007 for Pachelbel’s Canon. I often use it as a PROCESSIONAL for weddings and quinceañeras. Many organists say they “hate” Pachelbel’s Canon. But I love it. I think it’s bright and beautiful. I created that ‘simplified version’ for musicians coming to grips with playing the pipe organ. It can be downloaded as a free PDF if you visit Andrea Leal’s article dated 15 August 2022: Manuals Only: Organ Interludes Based on Plainsong. Specifically, it is page 84 in that collection—generously offered as a free PDF download. Johann Pachelbel (d. 1706) was a renowned German organist, violinist, teacher, and composer of over 500 works. A friend of Bach’s family, he taught Johann Christoph Bach (Sebastian Bach’s eldest brother) and lived in his house. Those who read Pachelbel’s biography will notice his connection to two German cities adopted as famous hymn tune names: EISENACH and ERFURT.

—Jeff Ostrowski