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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 · January 14, 2017

Ratzinger talks “Ad Orientem” (2003)

Cardinal Ratzinger’s English is *fantastic* (as this video shows).

Jeff Ostrowski · January 10, 2017

Musical Resources • 2nd Sunday after Epiphany

“May this Communion, O Lord, cleanse us from sin…”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 9, 2017

“Ten Commandments” • for the Choirmaster

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 6, 2017

PDF Download • Epiphany Booklet (FSSP.la)

To match the ancient acrostic, Erasmus changed the first line to “Herodis Hostes.”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 5, 2017

Best Mystery Movie Of All Time!

Every so often, we stumble across true excellence. Here’s a prime example.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 3, 2017

New Microphone

Please let me know your thoughts in the FB combox…

Jeff Ostrowski · January 3, 2017

Major Problems with “Holy Family” Feast

This feast has been moved *four times* since it was created in 1893…but that’s not my problem.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 3, 2017

Musical Resources • Holy Family (EF)

Communion anthem: “Jesus went down with them, and came to Nazareth and was subject to them.”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 2, 2017

“Table Altar” vs. “High Altar” (Novus Ordo)

It’s incorrect to say new Churches must be constructed with table altars.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 1, 2017

A Majestic Christmas Hymn That Isn’t Difficult

“Here lies He in the manger, alleluia, Who reigns without end, alleluia, alleluia.”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 31, 2016

Brave Schola Director Posts “Live” Recording…

A snippet caught by a generous alto at Candle-lit Mass in Hollywood.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 25, 2016

Proof Good People Still Exist

Several singers shown here helped record the Watershed polyphonic rehearsal videos.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 24, 2016

Christmas • When Jackie Gleason Broke Character (Updated)

I forgot something important…

Jeff Ostrowski · December 21, 2016

60 Minutes • “The Pope’s Choir” (Sistine Chapel)

This video sharply condemns the choir’s previous director…a dangerous game.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 20, 2016

Shortest “Kyrie” Palestrina Ever Wrote

Especially suited for the Ordinary Form—and did you spot the invertible counterpoint?

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President’s Corner

    PDF • “Music List” (Sunday, 11 January)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (SUNDAY, 11 January 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The FAUXBOURDON verses for the Communion Antiphon—to say nothing of the antiphon itself—are breathtaking. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the monumental feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Epiphany Hymn • “New 2-Voice Arrangement”
    The Von Trapp Family Singers loved a melody that was featured heavily (perhaps even “too heavily”) in the Brébeuf Hymnal. It goes by many names, including ALTONA, VOM HIMMEL HOCH, and ERFURT. If you only have one man and one woman singing, you will want to download this arrangement for two voices. It really is a marvelous tune—and it’s especially fitting during the season of Christmas and Epiphany.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Accompaniment (Epiphany Hymn)
    About a month ago, I created a simplified keyboard accompaniment for “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”—the famous ADVENT hymn—using a melody called CROSS OF JESUS. It was soon downloaded more than 1,000 times. As of this morning, you can download a simplified keyboard accompaniment for the belovèd Epiphany hymn “Bethlehem! Of noblest cities” (O Sola Magnarum Urbium) by clicking on this link (PDF file). 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.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF Download • “In Paradisum” in English
    We always sing the IN PARADISUM in Latin, as printed on this PDF score. I have an appallingly bad memory (meaning I’d be a horrible witness in court). In any event, it’s been brought to my attention that 15 years ago I created this organ accompaniment for the famous and beautiful ‘IN PARADISUM’ Gregorian chant sung in English according to ‘MR3’ (Roman Missal, Third Edition). If anyone desires such a thing, feel free to download and print. Looking back, I wish I’d brought the TENOR and BASS voices into a unison (on B-Natural) for the word “welcome” on the second line.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    What does this mean? “Pre-Urbanite”
    Something informed critics have frequently praised vis-à-vis the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal is its careful treatment of the ancient hymns vs. the “Urbanite” hymns. This topic I had believed to be fairly well understood—but I was wrong. The reason I thought people knew about it is simple; in the EDITIO VATICANA 1908 Graduale Romanum (as well as the 1913 Liber Antiphonarius) both versions are provided, right next to each other. You can see what I mean by examining this PDF file from the Roman Gradual of 1908. Most people still don’t understand that the Urbanite versions were never adopted by any priests or monks who sang the Divine Office each day. Switching would have required a massive amount of effort and money, because all the books would need to be changed.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”
    Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“If I could only make the faithful sing the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei…that would be to me the finest triumph sacred music could have, for it is in really taking part in the liturgy that the faithful will preserve their devotion. I would take the Tantum Ergo, the Te Deum, and the Litanies sung by the people over any piece of polyphony.”

— ‘Giuseppe Cardinal Sarto, Letter to Msgr. Callegari (1897)’

Recent Posts

  • Hymn Translation • “Was Dr. John Mason Neale the Greatest of All Time?”
  • PDF • “Music List” (Sunday, 11 January)
  • August 1970 • “Graduale Simplex Doc” (12 pages)
  • “Puer Natus in Béthlehem” • (Added Fifths)
  • Epiphany Hymn • “New 2-Voice Arrangement”

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