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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 · November 18, 2014

“As you might imagine, it was a disaster.”

“While most worshipers were stumbling through the Introit or Collect, a few fluent in Latin would be loudly racing through the prayers.”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 17, 2014

Authentic Sacred Music Programs & King Of The Hill

We’re called to discover Christ and conform our lives to His teachings.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 10, 2014

St. Thomas Aquinas College In California

Below are a few pictures I snapped during my visit.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 9, 2014

“Fear Of The Dark-Skinned” — Really?

“Right-wing Christians push fear of the dark-skinned and fear of honesty.” —National Catholic Reporter (28 October 2014)

Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2014

Those Selfless Ordinary Form Priests

Yesterday evening—on his day off, after another Mass he’d offered—I observed an OF priest saying the 1962 Missal in his private chapel.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 4, 2014

Fr. Christopher Smith Weighs In

“Why am I excited? Well, every year we spend about $4,000 on those paperback missalettes…”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 3, 2014

The Most Disturbing Change To The 1962 Missal

We’re not as smart as we’d thought … and our forefathers weren’t as dumb as we’d assumed.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 2, 2014

Announcement: Solemn High Requiem In Los Angeles On Monday

Traditional Latin Mass at a cemetery in Los Angeles: TOMORROW.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 30, 2014

Bach Mass In B Minor • Robert Shaw, 1947

Download these magnificent mp3 recordings as soon as you can!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 29, 2014

Sanctus/Benedictus: Should It Be Divided At Mass?

OCP recently sent me a free Spanish/English book attempting to revive this custom.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 28, 2014

Full Text: Cardinal Pell Sermon • 24 October 2014

“We Catholics have strange beliefs…” —George Cardinal Pell

Jeff Ostrowski · October 28, 2014

Look What God Did For You!

Dr. Mahrt has explained that polyphony’s order “shows forth the splendor of the universe.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 27, 2014

Test Files

BENEDICTUS with Two Alto Parts Here’s the Score The File you need to RECORD from = HERE Rehearsal file for Alto 1 Rehearsal file for Alto 2

Jeff Ostrowski · October 27, 2014

The Secret Way The Latin Mass Has Won

A recent blog by Liturgical Press is titled “Growing Up Racist and Misogynist and Catholic.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 21, 2014

The Passing Of Helen Hull Hitchcock

Helen was a rare person. She cared deeply about others.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
    Choirs love to sing the resplendent tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1929, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. Their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1929 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. As always, the Germans added an organ INTRODUCTION. For the record, I posted a different harmonization a few months ago which was downloaded more than 2,000 times.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”
    Various shell corporations (in an effort to make money selling Sacred Scripture) have tinkered with the LECTIONARY texts in a way that’s shameful. It’s no wonder Catholics in the pews know so few Bible passages by heart. Without authorization, these shell corporations pervert the official texts. Consider the Responsorial Psalm for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If you download this PDF comparison chart you’ll notice each country randomly omits certain sections. Such tinkering has gone on for 60+ years—and it’s reprehensible.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Monsignor Klaus Gamber Speaks!
    An interesting quotation from the eminent liturgist, Monsignor Klaus Gamber (d. 1989): “According to canon law, a person’s affiliation with a particular liturgical rite is determined by that person’s rite of baptism. Given that the liturgical reforms of Pope Paul VI created a de facto new rite, one could assert that those among the faithful who were baptized according to the traditional Roman rite have the right to continue following that rite; just as priests who were ordained according to the traditional Ordo have the right to exercise the very rite that they were ordained to celebrate.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Those who are trying to improve the quality of congregational singing cannot refuse to Gregorian chant the place which is due to it.”

— Sacred Congregation of Divine Worship (14 April 1974)

Recent Posts

  • False Accusations
  • (Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?
  • PDF • “Lectionary Comparison Chart”
  • “Can Choral Music Survive?” • 3 Reasons It Will
  • A Simple Way to Sing and Notate Organum Harmony

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