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Corpus Christi Watershed

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 · July 23, 2015

Polyphony (SATB) By Verdelot • With Optional Hymn “Christe Supreme”

Amazing! Verdelot’s cadence here sounds quite modern!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 22, 2015

Musical Resources • 9th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

The organist will play softly at the Offertory.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 22, 2015

The “Little Rock Nine” & Sacred Music

How could closing down all the schools be a good plan?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 21, 2015

Fr. Robert E. Barron To Be Made A Bishop!

Three new auxiliary bishops for Los Angeles!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 21, 2015

Fr. Carlo Rossini Is Wrong About “EU”

You can sleep soundly at night, knowing how to correctly pronounce “hagióque pnéumate.”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 20, 2015

“Sacred Vs. Secular Music” • Fr. John C. Selner

“…like man, Mary, you are IN—really cool among women.”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 20, 2015

Is Renaissance Music Too Expressive For Holy Mass?

“To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 18, 2015

Church Needs “Disposable Art” Created To Last “Not Centuries, But Weeks (Or Hours).”

Fr. Robert W. Hovda argues that “Little Green Apples” can be sung during Mass.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 16, 2015

Musical Resources • 8th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“The master in this Gospel is praising, not the wrongful act of the unfaithful steward, but the peculiar astuteness with which he makes friends who will be useful when things go amiss.” (Maredsous N. T.)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 16, 2015

Is Latin Impossible For Choirs?

When priests came into Bishop Trautman’s office asking permission, he would start speaking Latin to them.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 15, 2015

“Asperges Me” • Gregorian Chant

In the Extraordinary Form, the “Asperges Me” is only used on Sundays.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 14, 2015

1951 Solemn Pontifical Field Mass • With 100-Voice “Palestrina Cathedral Choir”

Following the Mass, Archbishop Joseph H. Schlarman was made an honorary Indian chief.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 13, 2015

SATB “Kyrie Eleison” • Henri Durieux

It’s extremely short and not difficult—yet fresh & gorgeous.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 13, 2015

The Day Fulton J. Sheen Made A Mistake

“Sheen told a friend of mine that anything he’d ever said of significance was taken from either Knox or Chesterton.” —Fr. George Rutler

Jeff Ostrowski · July 10, 2015

“You Will Now Feel These Interior Sentiments…”

Can you imagine a liturgical commentator standing at the front of Church declaring something like that?

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Simplified Accomp. • Schubert’s “Ave Maria.”
    Sometimes the organist must simultaneously serve as the CANTOR. (Those who work in the field of church music know exactly what I’m talking about.) One of our contributors composed this simplified keyboard accompaniment for Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” a piece which is frequently requested for Catholic funerals and weddings. In terms of the discussion about whether that piece is too theatrical (‘operatic’) for use in Church, I will leave that discussion to others. All I know is, many church musicians out there will appreciate this simplified version.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of April (2026)
    On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Accompaniment (Easter Hymn)
    Number 36 in the Brébeuf Hymnal is “At the Lamb’s high feast we sing,” an English translation for Ad Cenam Agni Próvidi (which was called “Ad Régias Agni Dapes” starting 1631). As of this morning, you can download a simplified keyboard accompaniment for it. Simply click here and scroll to the bottom. Many organists are forced to serve simultaneously as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult—which explains why choirmasters appreciate these simplified keyboard accompaniments. Sadly, many readers will click that link but forget to scroll to the bottom where the simplified PDF file is located.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF Download • “Anima Christi”
    I received a request for an organ accompaniment I created way back in 2007 for the “Anima Christi” Gregorian Chant. You can download this PDF file which has the score in plainsong followed by a keyboard accompaniment. Many melodies have been paired with “Anima Christi” over the centuries, but this is—perhaps—the most common one.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)
    On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Worse, composers are now setting the introits of the missal [instead of the Graduale] to music, even to chant, though these texts were explicitly for spoken recitation only.”

— ‘Dr. William Mahrt (Fall, 2015)’

Recent Posts

  • Simplified Accomp. • Schubert’s “Ave Maria.”
  • “The Unselected Hymn” • Do You Recognize It?
  • 2026 Sacred Music Pilgrimage (Washington DC) • With Richard J. Clark
  • “Reminder” — Month of April (2026)
  • “Gregorian Chant Isn’t a Platform for Your Personal Theories, Jeff” • (A Letter We Received)

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