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 · June 3, 2015

Finding A Liturgical Context

A very important article recently appeared in the Adoremus Bulletin.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 2, 2015

“Lauda Sion” • Rehearsal Video With Translation By Saint Robert Southwell, Jesuit Martyr

Many of the big publishing companies skip the Corpus Christi Sequence—they literally leave it blank.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 1, 2015

GIA Publications: “Painful Blessing Of A New Sensitivity”

I really don’t “get” the lyrics in Catholic hymnals by the major publishers.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 30, 2015

Musical Resources • Trinity Sunday (1962 Missal)

The last time we sing “Vidi Aquam” is Pentecost Sunday; now we go back to “Asperges Me.”

Jeff Ostrowski · May 28, 2015

Polyphony (3 voices) by Morales with Hymn (2 voices) for the Holy Trinity

Including rehearsal videos and special 13th-century hymn to the Most Holy Trinity.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 28, 2015

Coolest Liturgical Image Of All Time?

Fantastic photograph taken by our organist during Mass on Sunday…

Jeff Ostrowski · May 26, 2015

You Will Want To Print This Liturgical Article

“Once familiar features of the preconciliar rite are now as remote to us as some obscure aboriginal ritual.” —Msgr. McManus (1980)

Jeff Ostrowski · May 25, 2015

The Movie “I Confess” Shows A Liturgical Sensibility

Throughout the movie, Hitchcock seems to imitate the liturgy.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 25, 2015

Flashback • Pope Benedict XVI (Pentecost 2008)

For reasons I don’t fully understand, this chasuble was only worn once.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 22, 2015

Resources • Pentecost Sunday (1962 Missal)

On Pentecost Sunday, the FSSP Superior General will visit our parish.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 22, 2015

“Veni Creator Spiritus” • With An English Translation By Fr. Adrian Fortescue

A plenary indulgence can be gained by singing the “Veni Creator Spiritus” publicly on Pentecost.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 20, 2015

Review • “American Catholic Hymnbook” (1992)

“Hymns that are directed to the Trinity should not be used, no matter how familiar they may be.”

Jeff Ostrowski · May 18, 2015

Josef Cardinal Frings & Pope Benedict XVI

Joseph Ratzinger, an expert at the Council, was also the private secretary of Cardinal Frings, Archbishop of Cologne.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 18, 2015

PDF Downloads • Vernacular Mass Settings Published During The 1960s

If they were set upon avoiding the word “men,” I wish ICEL would have done something like “peace on earth to *those* of good will.”

Jeff Ostrowski · May 18, 2015

Loading Choir Binders • Take II

I’m afraid this article has no point.

Proof Which All Can Immediately See!

“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” as the famous maxim goes. Over the years, I’ve observed malicious attacks on the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal. Rather than scoring a ‘hit’ on the Brébeuf Hymnal, its attackers often reveal profound ignorance. I’ve been advised never to reply … but I break that rule today. Certain voices online assert that the Brébeuf Hymnal is “untraditional” because it includes both the Urbanite and pre-Urbanite versions of the hymns. But if only they would glance at a copy of the 1913 VESPERALE (printed by order of Pope Saint Pius X) they would see how mistaken such statements are.

—Jeff Ostrowski

New Bulletin Article • “8 June 2025”

My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for the parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article includes a few anecdotes about Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and Abraham Lincoln.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gloria in Spanish” • Free Accompaniment

Several people have requested an organ accompaniment for the GLORY TO GOD which prints the Spanish words directly above the chords. The Spanish adaptation—Gloria a Dios en el cielo—as printed in Roman Misal, tercera edición was adapted from the “Glória in excélsis” from Mass XV (DOMINATOR DEUS). I used to feel that it’s a pretty boring chant … until I heard it sung well by a men’s Schola Cantorum, which changed my view dramatically. This morning, I created this harmonization and dedicated it to my colleague, Corrinne May. You may download it for free. Please let me know if you enjoy it!

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

When to Sit, Stand and Kneel like it’s 1962

There are lots of different guides to postures for Mass, but I couldn’t find one which matched our local Latin Mass, so I made this one: sit-stand-kneel-crop

—Veronica Brandt

The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum

Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.

—Daniel Tucker