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 19, 2015

PDF Download • Organ Accompaniment for “Vita Sanctorum”

I’d like to produce my own version, setting all six verses to different harmonizations.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 19, 2015

PDF • Organ Accompaniment to the “Vidi Aquam”

A version for the organist composed by Canon Jules Van Nuffel (1883-1953)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 17, 2015

Reflections Upon The Death Of Francis Cardinal George This Morning At 10:45am

Someone told me in advance the cardinal was a trained musician; he certainly was!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 17, 2015

Simple Yet Beautiful Easter Piece You Might Want To Sing This Sunday

The verses come from an Easter poem found in numerous ancient manuscripts.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 17, 2015

Resources • 2nd Sunday after Easter (1962 Missal)

Including a lovely Easter piece from the middle ages called “Vita sanctorum.”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 16, 2015

Is This The World’s Greatest Cry Room?

An usher approached me, tapping on my shoulder. This was the last straw.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 14, 2015

Should Church Singers Be Paid?

Practice Videos for KYRIE “Impleta Sunt”—based on a piece by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 13, 2015

Cardinal Dolan Vested In Ferriola?

Can someone who knows about vestments confirm this?

Jeff Ostrowski · April 13, 2015

Don’t Tell Me What You Can Do: Show Me

Directing a choir is extremely difficult. The obstacles often seem insurmountable.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 13, 2015

Nixon, Watergate, & Singing The Mass Propers

Ehrlichman, Haldeman, Dean, Nixon, and others made tons of money writing and speaking about Watergate.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 12, 2015

Musical Resources • Low Sunday (a.k.a. “Divine Mercy Sunday” or “Quasimodo” or “White Sunday”)

The organ is back!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 9, 2015

First Look Images! • “Proper Of The Mass” By Fr. Samuel F. Weber

This 1,292 page book is much thinner than I had anticipated.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 9, 2015

Easter Vigil Readings With Dancer • St. Patrick Catholic Church (Seattle, Washington)

I was surprised to see composer David Haas comment on facebook in support of this.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 8, 2015

Fascinating Videos From 1958 • Mass Sung In English!

A “Dialogue” Low Mass with singing (c. 1958) by choristers of St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2015

It Has Arrived! • “Proper of the Mass” (Ignatius)

You will notice that Fr. Weber’s version sounds quite similar to the authentic Latin chant.

PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies

Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • 14 September (Holy Cross)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for 14 September 2025, which is the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

New Bulletin Article • “14 September 2025”

My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 14 September 2025) discusses OFFERTORY ANTIPHONS and contains a wonderful quote by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”

We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?

It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)

How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“No living writer possesses a greater command over the English language than Msgr. Knox, but in this instance one cannot help feeling that he has allowed his virtuosity to get the better of him, and, in his anxiety to shield the holy of holies from vulgar intrusion, produced a text that would either pass over the listener’s head as completely as the original Latin, or else leave him groping so long after the meaning that he would be quite unable to keep pace with the officiating priest.”

— Dr. Herbert Patrick Reginald Finberg (University of Leicester)