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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

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 · April 5, 2018

“ Dissonance? ” • Gregorian Accompaniment

Nothing could be further from the truth!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 2, 2018

I Was Wrong to Dread the “Pre-1955” Holy Week

Five (5) differences between the ancient rites of Holy Week (“Pre-1955”) and the Pius XII version.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 2, 2018

“Crotalus” • How Does It Sound?

Holy Thursday pew version from a pocket recorder.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 27, 2018

PDF Download • Organ Accompaniment for “Vexilla Regis” (Hymn) by Fr. Adrian Fortescue

When I saw this page, my opinion of Fortescue went down—but then I remembered…

Jeff Ostrowski · March 26, 2018

Musical Resources • Holy Thursday (FSSP, 2018)

“…Who didst establish the salvation of mankind on the tree of the Cross; that whence death came, thence also life might arise again, and that he, who overcame by the tree, by the tree also might be overcome…” —Preface

Jeff Ostrowski · March 19, 2018

Fighting With A Bishop • Good Idea?

“We are fully determined to restore Latin to its position of honor.” —Saint John XXIII (22 February 1962)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 8, 2018

4th Sunday of Lent (“Laetare Sunday”)

“Grant us, we beseech Thee, O merciful God, that we may treat with unfeigned veneration and ever receive with heartfelt faith Thy holy rites which we constantly celebrate…”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 6, 2018

PDF Download • Rare German Hymnal (879 pages)

Most German hymnals we’ve come across contain words only—but this one has harmonies!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2018

3rd Sunday of Lent (Extraordinary Form)

“Be merciful, O Lord, we beseech Thee, and free us from all sins and dangers…”

Jeff Ostrowski · February 28, 2018

Contemporary “Stabat Mater” (SATB) • by Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965)

You’ve never heard this arrangement before—perfect for Lent.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 25, 2018

“Tu Es Petrus” (Rec. 2017 Symposium)

No matter how many people imitate John Denver on the guitar in our churches, Palestrina and Victoria will always be loved and sought by serious Catholics.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 22, 2018

“First Run Through” • Guerrero’s Kyrie

“To put it simply, I was pierced by the beauty of the liturgy in a way I have never before experienced.” —2017 participant

Jeff Ostrowski · February 19, 2018

Rare Lenten Hymns You’ve Not Sung

“Our hymnbooks know nothing of such a treasure as this, and give us pages of poor sentiment in doggerel lines by some tenth-rate modern versifier.” —Fr. Fortescue

Jeff Ostrowski · February 15, 2018

Phone Interview • Fr. Guy Nicholls, Cong. Orat.

The Blessed John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music (England) has a big announcement!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 13, 2018

Hymn Tunes That Are Actually The Same

Look carefully at this image…

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President’s Corner

    Simplified Accompaniment (Easter Hymn)
    Number 36 in the Brébeuf Hymnal is “At the Lamb’s high feast we sing,” an English translation for Ad Cenam Agni Próvidi (which was called “Ad Régias Agni Dapes” starting 1631). As of this morning, you can download a simplified keyboard accompaniment for it. Simple click here and scroll to the bottom. Many organists are forced to serve simultaneously as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult—which explains why choirmasters appreciate these simplified keyboard accompaniments. Sadly, many readers will click that link but forget to scroll to the bottom where the simplified PDF file is located.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Quasi Modo Sunday”
    The Introit for “Quasi Modo Sunday” (12 April 2026) is particularly beautiful. The musical score can be downloaded as a PDF file, and so can the organ accompaniment. The official language of the Catholic Church is Latin (whereas Greek is our mother tongue). Vatican II said Gregorian Chant must be given “first place” under normal circumstances. As a result, some parishes will rightly sing the authentic version. On the other hand, because so many USA dioceses disobey the mandate of Vatican II, some musicians sing plainsong in the vernacular. I have attempted to simultaneously accompany myself on the pipe organ while singing the English version. Although very few take advantage of it, the complete Proprium Missae is posted at the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘German’ Introductions for Hymns
    German organ books have an enchanting habit of including introductions for each and every hymn. For example, consider this snazzy example found in a German hymnal published in 1902. In the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal, that melody is called “Laudes Mariae” and was married to Omni Die Dic Mariae, with a popular English translation (“Daily, daily, sing to Mary”) by Father Henry Bittleston, an Oratorian priest. Notice they also added a ‘tailpiece’ or ‘playout’ or postlude at the end—a very German thing to do!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF Download • “Anima Christi”
    I received a request for an organ accompaniment I created way back in 2007 for the “Anima Christi” Gregorian Chant. You can download this PDF file which has the score in plainsong followed by a keyboard accompaniment. Many melodies have been paired with “Anima Christi” over the centuries, but this is—perhaps—the most common one.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)
    On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “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

Random Quote

Although the New Testament is now so much more important to us than the Old, we must remember that the archetype of the Canon of Scripture is the Old Testament. At first that was the whole Bible, to Christians as to Jews. When the apostles speak of “Scripture” they mean the Old Testament only. Indeed, the way in which the books of the New Testament came to be considered canonical was by making them equal to those of the Old.

— Rev’d Doctor Adrian Fortescue

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Anima Christi”
  • PDF Download • “Rarer Than a Blue Moon” — Side-by-Side English Translation (Pius XII Psalter)
  • Fulton J. Sheen • “24-Hour Catechism”
  • Simplified Accompaniment (Easter Hymn)
  • PDF Download • “Quasi Modo Sunday”

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