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Views from the Choir Loft

Jeff Ostrowski • Article Archive

A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He completed studies in Education and Musicology at the graduate level. Having worked as a church musician in Los Angeles for ten years, in 2024 he accepted a position as choirmaster for Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Michigan, where he resides with his wife and children. —Read full biography (with photographs).

Jeff Ostrowski · February 3, 2020

Silence

Saint Peter (II Peter 3:16) says the writings of Saint Paul are extremely difficult to understand—and I Corinthians 14:34-35 seems an example. But I have something else to say about silence in church: it depends upon the time of day. I have responsibility over four (4) Masses each Sunday, and there are “levels” of silence. […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2020

PDF Booklet • Feast of the Purification (2 February)

Better late than never, right?

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2020

Another Purification “Mystery”…

Re: February 2nd in the EF: The following verse was also removed from the 1962 Missale Romanum. Neither does it appear in the 1962 Graduale Romanum of Solesmes: “Vs. Cum indúcerent púerum Jesum parentes ejus, ut fácerent secúndum consuetúdinem legis pro eo, ipse accépit eum in ulnas suas.” It was deleted from the Antiphon “Respónsum […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2020

“Mystery” about the Purification in the Extraordinary Form

From what I can tell, the chant “Exsúrge, Dómine, ádjuva nos”—which formerly was sung while candles were being distributed, toward the end—was removed in 1962. It does not appear in the official 1962 Missale Romanum. Nor does it appear in the 1961 Solesmes Graduale Romanum. The Liber Usualis has it, but it’s well known that […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 31, 2020

A Traditional—But Bizarre!—Way To Assist At Mass

Just because I’m aware of something that happened in the past doesn’t mean I endorse it.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2020

Photos! • Brébeuf Choral Supplement Has Arrived

The Brébeuf hymnal collection is now complete—and it’s truly revolutionary!

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2020

Pothier’s 1906 “De Caetero” Letter • 3 Translations

“The Catholic tradition cannot be that of any special school, either ancient or modern…” —Abbot Pothier

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2020

Anger at mistakes?

I have a bad habit of getting frustrated when choir members take a long time to learn a particular interval or entrance. But this can be “cured.” It was cured a few weeks ago, when I made a mistake. I was supposed to go down a minor third, but instead I went down a perfect […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 27, 2020

Photograph • Fr. Valentine w/ Composer Kevin Allen

Please keep Fr. Valentine in your prayers—thank you!

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 26, 2020

“The old man carried the Child, but the Child led the old man.”

The Antiphon for First Vespers of the Feast of the Purification (February 2nd) is beautiful: “The old man carried the Child, but it was the Child who was guiding the old man. The Virgin bore the Child, and after child-bearing was virgin still: whom she bore, him she adored.” —Senex púerum portábat, puer autem senem […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2020

A quote from Fr. Valentine Young

I had one brother who was out of the church for quite a few years. When my mother was asked, “Did she worry about him?” I remember her answer: “I don’t worry about him; I just pray for him.” She left that in God’s hands. My mother did not live to see her son return […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2020

Extremely Rare! • 1908 Solesmes Graduale (PDF Download)

I’ve been searching for this book for twenty years! • For the first time in history, the Graduale Romanum from 1908 (with Solesmes rhythmic markings) has been scanned and uploaded • Includes copious and detailed information about the rhythm of the Editio Vaticana (“Vatican Edition”) you won’t find anywhere else+

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2020

“Theoricam practicamque”

In a book printed by Solesmes Abbey in 1902, “Kyrie Rex Genitor” is also called Theoricam practicamque. Can anyone explain why? And how does that translate into English? “Theoricam practicamque vitam regens Deus Pater.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 21, 2020

This old holy card says it all…

For priests, it reads: “In memory of that day on which was given what is not given to angels—that I should offer God to God.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 21, 2020

PDF Download • “Lucis Creator Optime” (Vespers Hymn)

I followed the “Brébeuf hymnal method,” in which every verse is written out…

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • (27th Sund. Ordinary Time)

    Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday: 4 October 2026

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    A Mystery! — Re: the “Liber Usualis”

    Even after all these years, nobody has been able to explain this.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    A Popular “Gloria” … in Dutch?
    Close to 16 years ago, I composed a “Glory to God in the Highest” in honor of SAINT RALPH SHERWIN. It was subsequently sung all over the world, and included in various collections (under different titles). You can download the musical score in plainsong notation. It was selected for inclusion in the Saint Isaac Jogues Illuminated Missal, Gradual, and Lectionary—and here’s its keyboard accompaniment (PDF file). I have a terrible memory, but somebody reminded me it was translated into Dutch (!) in 2012. I have no idea who did this—but you can download the score by clicking here. Because I don’t speak Dutch, I have no idea whether the adaptation was done skillfully.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Preface of Saint Joseph (added by the pope)

    You can see the “Præfatio de Sancto Joseph” inserted directly into the priest’s missal.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Predictable Rhymes?” • A Follow Up
    We received considerable correspondence regarding my article, Two Ways to Defile a Hymn. More specifically, what really raised certain people’s hackles was its follow-up article dealing with the keyboard accompaniment for the CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL. But to quote Eliza Doolittle: “Have I said anything I oughtn’t?” Please examine this PDF file and see whether you agree. Were the editors of the BRÉBEUF HYMNAL incorrect to insist upon sophisticated and clever rhymes, rather than mind-numbingly predictable rhymes?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘Ould’ But Not Good
    Dom Samuel Gregory Ould (note the spelling) was a Benedictine monk at FORT AUGUSTUS ABBEY in Scotland. As musician, organist, and composer, Dom Ould was highly regarded. Moreover, he was considered an authority on Gregorian Chant. But not everything found in an old book—or, in this case, an “Ould” book—is necessarily praiseworthy. Consider this page from Dom Ould’s hymnal. Do you see the rhymes? They offend severely by ABR (“Abuse By Reuse”) and are utterly predictable. In my recent article—Two Ways to Defile a Hymn—I addressed this topic.
    —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

  • Music List • (27th Sund. Ordinary Time)
  • A Mystery! — Re: the “Liber Usualis”
  • A Popular “Gloria” … in Dutch?
  • From Rome • “International Week of Sacred Music”
  • Music List • (26th Sund. Ordinary Time)

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