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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 · March 27, 2014

“Turn Those Altars Around!” — Cardinal Lercaro, Consilium President (1965)

Could this be the missing link explaining why “versus populum” celebrations took over?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 26, 2014

“Confusion and Annoyance” — Pope Paul VI on the New Liturgy (1965)

“Previously it was enough to be there; now we must participate. Previously one could doze or perhaps even have a chat; but no longer; now one must listen and pray.” — Pope Paul VI, 17 March 1965

Jeff Ostrowski · March 25, 2014

“The Most Beautiful Thing This Side Of Heaven”

A wonderful 18-minute sermon by Fr. Christopher Smith.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 24, 2014

What did Pope John Paul II think of the Cappa Magna?

The cappa magna has a five-meter-long train. Pius XII shortened it to 3 meters, but it’s said that John XXIII restored the ordinary length.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 19, 2014

“Anticipated” Mass or “Vigil” Mass on Saturday Night?

“Father Calewaert opposed the proposal because it would gravely damage Sunday.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 17, 2014

Gregorian Chant As A “Weapon” — Seriously?

A drafter of USCCB guidelines on church music has said: “Some individuals and organizations seemingly use chant as a weapon to advance their agenda and judge others.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 11, 2014

1970s Theology Has Affected The Celebration Of Mass

“The first task of all specially designated ministers is to serve the assembly. Their conscious and deliberate target is to help the assembly bring itself to life…” — Fr. Eugene Walsh

Jeff Ostrowski · March 10, 2014

“Father Bugnini has only one interest: press ahead and finish.” — Cardinal Antonelli, 1967

“Paul VI … declared that he had been hurt by certain arbitrary liturgical experiments and pained by a certain tendency to de-sacralize the liturgy.” — Cardinal Antonelli (19 April 1967)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 9, 2014

Church music need not sound “Catholic” says drafter of USCCB guidelines

The author calls people who appreciate Gregorian chant “conservative” and those who don’t “liberal.” Are such labels really helpful?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 4, 2014

How Many Syllables Does The Word “Catholic” Have?

Do you sing “ain-juhl” or “ain-jell” for the word “ANGEL” ? Do you sing “hevv-ihn” or “heav’n” for the word “HEAVEN” ?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2014

Should Catholics Kneel At Mass?

To be absolutely clear: President Barack Obama is not the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2014

Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli Speaks About Roman Missal, Third Edition

Bishop Serratelli says “most bishops are bald” because the confirmandi cannot answer basic questions when they are examined.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2014

Peter Wagner 1903 Kyriale In Gregorian Notation

Dr. Franz Karl Prassl has given us a tremendous gift.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 24, 2014

Reform Of The Reform: A Perspective

“How much annoyance among our loyal Catholics could have been avoided if evidence had been provided that various elements had been taken from old sacramentaries and were not arbitrary innovations.” —Bishop of Regensburg (1979)

Jeff Ostrowski · February 24, 2014

Is the Kyrie part of the Penitential Rite?

Many priests and liturgists omit the “Kyrie eleison” when the rubrics clearly forbid this.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

Saint Phillip Neri founded a religious congregation called the Oratory. Animuccia was involved from early on and remained “maestro di capella” of the Oratory until his death. The Oratory was able to attract many musicians who volunteered their services, including the famous singer Francesco Soto de Langa from the Capella Sistina, the composer Palestrina, and probably the composer Tomás Luis de Victoria who lived in the same house as St. Phillip Neri for five years.

— Source Unknown

Recent Posts

  • 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “My First Year with the Latin Mass” • A Music Director’s Perspective
  • Boston Auxiliary Bishop: “In offering the Traditional Mass for the first time, after removing the vestments, I knelt in the back pew and wept.”
  • Now Available! • “Hymns of Cardinal Newman: Kevin Allen’s Legendary Choral Settings”
  • Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

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