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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 · October 1, 2015

Musical Resources • 19th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“Almighty and merciful God, in thy goodness put far from us all that may work us harm…”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 28, 2015

PDF Download • Extremely Rare Hymnal (1952)

Published by the Catholic Choirmasters’ Guild of Buffalo, New York.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 26, 2015

Fr. David Friel & Pope Francis

A friend kindly sent me these photos…

Jeff Ostrowski · September 24, 2015

Musical Resources • 18th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“In thy tender mercy, guide aright, we beseech thee, O Lord, our hearts…”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 24, 2015

Joan Brudieu • Simple Kyrie (Revised)

When people ask how to begin teaching polyphony, I show them this.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 23, 2015

Interesting Video About The Latin Mass (Massachusetts)

I believe Fr. Robert Fromageot was professor of Gregorian chant at the FSSP seminary.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 22, 2015

A Serious Problem That Needs To Be Addressed

The accusation by this lady really hurt me; but I’m not sure why…

Jeff Ostrowski · September 22, 2015

Transposed Mode • This Sunday’s Communion

One could also use a Mode VII psalm tone to “solve” the problem … but that just sounds wrong.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 19, 2015

Musical Resources • 17th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“Very humbly, O Lord, we implore of thy majesty, that the holy mysteries we are celebrating … save us from transgressing in the time to come …”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 19, 2015

“Agnus Dei” For Three Voices • Guillaume Dufay

…including a digression on why choirs hate Solfège.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 16, 2015

“Live” Recording Of Polyphonic Kyrie VIII

Last Sunday we sang a beautiful composition by Richard Rice.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 16, 2015

“The songs and hymns presently in use need to be reconsidered.”

“…it is important to avoid musical forms which, because of their profane use, are not conducive to prayer.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 14, 2015

Fr. Jonathan Morris, Pit Bull Attack, & More

What you didn’t know about Fr. Jonathan Morris…

Jeff Ostrowski · September 10, 2015

Musical Resources • 16th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“May thy grace … cause us to be zealous at all times in the doing of good works.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 8, 2015

Video Demonstration • “Do Choral Vowels Matter?”

Can you see the difference? Can you hear the difference?

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    Music List • (3rd Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 3rd Sunday of Lent (8 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has magnificent propers. Its stern INTROIT (“Óculi mei semper ad Dóminum”) is breathtaking, and the COMMUNION (“Qui bíberit aquam”) with its fauxbourdon verses is wonderful. 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 • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    Grotesque Pairing • “Passion Chorale”
    One of our rarest releases was undoubtably this PDF scan of the complete Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) by Father Joseph Roff, a student of Healey Willan. One of the scarcest titles in existence, this book was provided to us by Mr. Peter Meggison. Back in 2018, we scanned each page and uploaded it to our website, making it freely available to everyone. Readers are probably sick of hearing me say this, but just because we upload something that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wonderful or worthy of imitation. We upload many publications precisely because they are ‘grotesque’, interesting, or revealing. Whereas the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal had an editorial board that was careful and sensitive vis-à-vis pairing texts with tunes, the Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) seems to have been rather reckless in this regard. Please take a look at what they did with the PASSION CHORALE and see whether you agree.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“We must acknowledge that We have been somewhat disturbed and saddened by these requests. One may well wonder what the origin is of this new way of thinking and this sudden dislike for the past.” [Paul VI responding to requests from monks asking permission to remove Latin from the Divine Office.]

— Pope Saint Paul VI (15 August 1966)

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  • “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation

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