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 · January 12, 2015

Cristóbal de Morales Missa “Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La.”

You’ll want to immediately download these scores, videos, and Mp3 files!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 9, 2015

Short And Simple Organ Postludes & Preludes

Many of you asked me to share the results, which I have done below.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 8, 2015

“The best I have ever seen. Anywhere. In the world. Period.” —Mr. John Sonnen

“The vitality of the Classical Rite is as fresh as ever.”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 8, 2015

Musical Resources • Holy Family

Many don’t realize that all the EF chants for the Holy Family can be used at OF—cf. section 397 of the Ordo Cantus Missæ.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 7, 2015

Why Didn’t Anyone Stop This?

Here is an except from a Church bulletin published in December of 2014.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 7, 2015

Was Fulton J. Sheen Ever Wrong?

There’s a discrepancy in this Sunday’s EF Introit.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 7, 2015

Rare Photograph: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen With Father Joseph Ratzinger in 1965

Archbishop Sheen said nary a word about any liturgical reforms following the Council.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 6, 2015

Organ Processionals & Postludes: Suggestions Needed

“So many of the wonderful Preludes & Fugues by Bach—as splendid as they are—do not work as Processional pieces: they’re simply too long.”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 5, 2015

Reflections On Marty Haugen’s “Mass Of Creation” (Revised Version)

Before the revision, Haugen’s Gloria “worked” much better, but I still had serious reservations about it.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 4, 2015

Musical Resources • Most Holy Name Of Jesus

…including a special PDF version (Singer + Organist) of “Corde Natus ex Parentis.”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 31, 2014

PDF Download: “Saint Mark’s Hymnal for Use in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States” (1910)

I bet you don’t own this important historical hymn book!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 30, 2014

“A Pathetic, Unenforceable Patchwork Of Rhetoric” & The Latin Mass

“Many of those who have influenced the reform have no love, and no veneration of that which has been handed down to us.” —Secretary of the Consilium

Jeff Ostrowski · December 29, 2014

UPDATE * Latin Mass Will Remain In Hollywood

The Ancient Form of Mass will be offered indefinitely at St. Victor Church every Sunday at 7:00pm.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 29, 2014

Fr. Jay Finelli Weighs In On The Jogues Missal

“This section immediately brought to mind my mother’s old hand missal.” —Fr. Jay Finelli

Jeff Ostrowski · December 28, 2014

Musical Resources • Sunday Within The Octave Of Christmas

We will NOT be singing “Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer” for Communion!

“Offertory” at Catholic Funerals

I have argued that the OFFERTORY—at least in its ancient form—is more of a responsory than an antiphon. The 1962 Missal specifically calls it “Antiphona ad Offertorium.” From now on, I plan to use this beautiful setting (PDF) at funerals, since it cleverly inserts themes from the absolution of the body. Tons more research needs to be done on the OFFERTORY, which often is a ‘patchwork’ stitching together various beginnings and endings of biblical verses. For instance, if you examine the ancient verses for Dómine, vivífica me (30th Sunday in Ordinary Time) you’ll discover this being done in a most perplexing way. Rebecca Maloy published a very expensive book on the OFFERTORY, but it was a disappointment. Indeed, I can’t think of a single valuable insight contained in her book. What a missed opportunity!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“In Paradisum” • Gregorian Chant

As a RECESSIONAL on All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), we will sing In Paradísum Dedúcant Te Ángeli (PDF). When it comes to Gregorian Chant, this is one of the most popular “songs.” Frankly, all the prayers and chants from the traditional REQUIEM MASS (Missa exsequialis or Missa pro defunctis) are incredibly powerful and never should’ve been scuttled. Click here to hear “In Paradisum” in a recording I made this afternoon. Professor Louis Bouyer spoke of the way Bugnini “scuttled the office of the dead” in this fascinating excerpt from his memoirs. In his book, La riforma litugica (1983), Bugnini bragged—in quite a shameful way—about eliminating the ancient funeral texts, and even admitted those venerable texts were “beloved” (his word) by Catholics.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • All Souls (2 November)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 2 November 2025, which is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (“All Souls”). 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 top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. In my humble opinion, it’s weird to have the feast of All Saints on a Sunday. No wonder the close associate of Pope Saint Paul VI said the revised KALENDAR was “the handiwork of a trio of maniacs.” However, I can’t deny that sometimes the sacred liturgy consists of elements that are seemingly contradictory: e.g. the Mode 7 “De Profúndis” ALLELUIA, or the Mode 8 “Dulce lignum” ALLELUIA on the various ancient feasts of the Holy Cross (3 May, 14 September, and so on).

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski

New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.

—Jeff Ostrowski