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 · July 9, 2015

Musical Resources • 7th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

The organist will play softly at the Offertory.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 8, 2015

Beware Of Microphones!

My mother was present during that Mass and recorded some brief snippets on her iPhone.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 7, 2015

Short, Fresh, & Beautiful • SATB “Ave Maris Stella”

This piece by Fr. Antonin Lhoumeau will knock your socks off!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 7, 2015

UGLY • Just Plain, Old-Fashioned Ugly

Have you noticed that contemporary music was not forced upon congregations the same way contemporary architecture was?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 6, 2015

The Beauty Of Ancient Catholic Manuscripts

Medieval manuscripts were normally created by (at least) two monks: one drew, one wrote.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 4, 2015

Clarence Thomas: “I waited 25 years to return to the Church”

“Older people have an obligation not to spew their cynicism on our youth.” —Justice Thomas

Jeff Ostrowski · July 4, 2015

Musical Resources • 6th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

The organist will play softly at the Offertory.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 2, 2015

Annibale Bugnini’s Commentary (June 1967)

“The faithful everywhere have responded generously, and have greeted the new liturgy with great joy.” —Archbishop Bugnini (1967)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 1, 2015

Only Priests Can Save Catholic Music

Including thirteen (13) complete collections of Mass Propers…with audio examples!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 28, 2015

Loading Choir Binders In Los Angeles

I average one binder per second.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 26, 2015

Musical Resources • 5th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

The organist will play softly at the Offertory.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 24, 2015

Clearest Explanation Ever! —Bishop Gracida On Divorce & Remarriage For Catholics

“It is better to speak of a Declaration of Nullity rather than an Annulment…” —Most Rev. Gracida (1994)

Jeff Ostrowski · June 24, 2015

PDF Download • “Gloria In Excelsis” With 3-Voice Polyphony By Cristóbal De Morales

Could this have something to do with how each line comes through “cleanly” in 3-part music?

Jeff Ostrowski · June 22, 2015

Richard Rice • SATB Kyrie from Mass VIII

A luxuriant choral setting of the Kyrie from “Mass of the Angels”

Jeff Ostrowski · June 22, 2015

EWTN Classic • “Theology of Worship” with Fr. Robert Skeris (1998)

Mother Angelica sat down for a wonderful interview with a famous Theologian.

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Luis Martínez Must Go!

Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

—Jeff Ostrowski

Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!

A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed