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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 · March 31, 2017

“Adoro te devote” (SATB) • Rehearsal Videos

…with English translation by Fr. Adrian Fortescue.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2017

“The World” • What is the world?

Golden Jubilee Homily by Bishop René H. Gracida.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2017

Why I Never Repeat Pieces With My Choir

“Sometimes when you are confusing, you are mistaken for being learned.” —Fulton J. Sheen

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2017

Commercial Pop Culture + Church Music?

This brief video—filmed at an Episcopal church in 2013—may offend you.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 27, 2017

World’s Easiest Organ Processional (PDF)

I have a confession to make: I can’t stand hearing wrong notes.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2017

Musical Resources • 4th Sunday of Lent (“Laetare”)

“Grant, we beseech Thee, O merciful God, that we may treat with unfeigned veneration…Thy holy rites which we constantly celebrate.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2017

Easter Hymn: “O Filii et Filiæ” • Contemporary setting (SATB)

Pardon my squeaky Soprano notes, but I wanted to demonstrate how it sounds! • A wonderful setting of the haunting “Easter Alleluia” based on a work by Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 20, 2017

PDF Download • Booklet for St. Joseph (19 March)

The absolute best method for choosing starting pitches…

Jeff Ostrowski · March 18, 2017

Musical Resources • 3rd Sunday of Lent 1

“When a strong man armed keepeth his court, those things which he possesseth are in peace…”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 17, 2017

Quote Video • “Legislation on Sacred Music”

A thought-provoking production by “Six Candle Studios.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 14, 2017

Fighting With Choir Members?

“On Holy Saturday in 1545—while the pope and several cardinals were present—two of the oldest choir members flew at each other during the blessing of the new oils, shouting in a loud voice…”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 14, 2017

How Low Can You Sing?

I can’t even hear these pitches—can you?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 10, 2017

GoFundMe Campaign • Needing Scholarships!

Sacred Music: “Curse the darkness…or light a candle?”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 10, 2017

Musical Resources • 2nd Sunday of Lent 1

“O God, Who seest how we are destitute of all strength…”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 7, 2017

Vatican II • What You Were Too Embarrassed To Ask

Fr. Christopher Smith has created a 7-part series on Vatican II.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • (4th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 4th Sunday of Lent (15 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has sublime propers. It is most often referred to as “Lætare Sunday” owing to its INTROIT. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Communion (4th Snd. Lent)
    The COMMUNION ANTIPHON for this coming Sunday, which is the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A), is particularly beautiful. There’s something irresistible about this tone; it’s neither happy nor sad. As always, I encourage readers to visit the flourishing feasts website, where the complete Propria Missae may be downloaded free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Good Friday Flowers
    Good Friday has a series of prayers for various parties: the pope, catechumens, pagans, heretics, schismatics, and so forth. In the old liturgical books, there was no official ‘name’ for these prayers. (This wasn’t unusual as ‘headers’ and ‘titles’ for each section is a rather modern idea.) The Missal simply instructed the priest to go to the Epistle side and begin. In the SHERBORNE MISSAL, each prayer begins with a different—utterly spectacular—flower. This PDF file shows the first few prayers. Has anyone counted the ‘initial’ drop-cap flowers in the SHERBORNE MISSAL? Surely there are more than 1,000.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)
    Some consider Songs of Syon (1910) the greatest Episcopalian hymnal ever printed. As a Roman Catholic, I have no right to weigh in one way or the other. However, this particular page has me stumped. I just know I’ve heard that tune somewhere! If you can help, please email me. I’m talking about the text which begins: “This is the day the Lord hath made; In unbeclouded light array’d.” The book is by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and its complete title is: Songs of Syon: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Back in 2016, Corpus Christi Watershed scanned and uploaded this insanely rare book. For years our website was the sole place one could download it as a PDF file.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation
    It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”
    —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

“This chapter hereby extends the prohibition of 13 June 1561 against loaning singers or instrumentalists on any account whatsoever to include even the humblest choirboy.” [From “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

— Sevilla: Chapter Resolution (10 June 1562)

Recent Posts

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  • Eucharistic Hymns for Your Choir
  • Fulton J. Sheen • “24-Hour Catechism”

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