Can Church Musicians Learn From An Online Role-Playing Game?
Let’s help Catholics appreciate the richness of polyphonic music, which can be quite powerful.
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.”
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).

Let’s help Catholics appreciate the richness of polyphonic music, which can be quite powerful.

Are we surprised that authentic Church music died in the 1970s?

A consistently serious parish whose Pastor never deviates from Catholic doctrine.

“When this Congregation gave ‘recognitio’ to your Bishops’ Conference, this was done on the condition that kneeling communicants are not to be denied Holy Communion.” — Vatican Statement

I’ve come to realize that truth & beauty should be loved for their own sake. Trying to “possess” them is silly.

The traditional music still triumphs in one important area: parishes run by “no-nonsense” priests.

This book’s editor had the reputation of being a “walking encyclopedia” of American hymnology…

I wish somebody had explained this to me in 2005, when I began working for the Ordinary Form.

When teaching your choir to hear the difference between “spread” vowels & proper choral vowels, use this example.

When I observe our beautiful children, I realize that God is the True Artist.

My original article was shared 4,000 times and generated a surprising amount of hate mail.

The most marvelous uniform I’ve seen was the one worn by Prince Charles when he married Diana.

At the program’s conclusion, I felt dumber than when I’d started watching.

This historic photograph was taken at the organizational meeting for the CMAA the same year “Inter Oecumenici” was issued by the Vatican.

The priest returned to the Altar, removed the big red Missal, carried it to the pulpit, and proceeded to translate the entire Gospel into English.
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