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Corpus Christi Watershed

We’re a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2006. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and run no advertisements. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors.

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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 · June 11, 2013

Proud Father With Son & Daughter

Normally, I hate it when blogs become too personal, but I hope our readers will tolerate me sharing two (2) pictures of our children.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 10, 2013

Entering The Danger Zone: Congregational Singing

Are we being honest when we claim that the “entire congregation” can sing a hymn at Mass? I had to search pretty hard, but finally found someone willing to admit the truth.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 10, 2013

Watershed Customer Service

These days, companies treat their customers like animals. I find it disgusting.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 8, 2013

“How Do I Use Gregorio? How Do I Use GABC?”

To prove that anybody can learn to use GABC (Gregorio) in five seconds to create Gregorian chant scores, I created this training video while holding a 6-month-old baby.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 7, 2013

Concerning “Finger Flapping”

Sigh . . What to do when you’re the greatest of the great?

Jeff Ostrowski · June 6, 2013

Splendid! A 2013 Recording By Cistercian Nuns

“I have listened to the CD with great enjoyment. When listening to the Cistercian Nuns of Saint Mary’s Abbey, one realizes that they do not just sing at prayer or sing their prayers: their very singing is prayer, according to the axiom, Those who sing well, pray twice.” — Quote from a listener.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 5, 2013

Fantastic News For The New Translation!

The crucial question was not asked: “Is the New Translation more accurate than the previous one?”

Jeff Ostrowski · June 4, 2013

What Is Currently Happening? Let’s Be Honest.

Why do 99% of Catholic Churches replace 100% of the Mass Propers 99% of the time?

Jeff Ostrowski · June 3, 2013

Free Musical Scores For Catholic Weddings

Nuptial Mass Responsorial Psalms, Gospel Acclamations, Introits, Offertories, simple organ interludes, training videos, PDF scores, and more . . . all for free!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 1, 2013

A Most Magnificent Monogram

Can you find all the letters in this ancient symbol? Every Catholic knows how the Preface begins: “It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks . . .”

Jeff Ostrowski · May 30, 2013

History, Padre Pio, Pius X, And More

Did you know Padre Pio was drafted into the army? Did you know his father had to come to America to earn money so Padre Pio could be tutored before being accepted to monastic life?

Jeff Ostrowski · May 28, 2013

Disney’s “That Darn Cat,” Life Teen Masses, and More

“Music has the capability of evoking a place and a context.” — Dr. William Mahrt of Stanford

Jeff Ostrowski · May 28, 2013

The English And Their Hymns

I have noticed that the “English method” of hymnody prints the musical notes on one page and the words on another. Several experts explain why in this post.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 27, 2013

Failure, The Liturgy, & Today’s Mr. Know-It-All

The priest who rejected my submission was very professional, polite, and encouraging.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 26, 2013

Sibelius 7 • Get Rid Of Multi Rests!

“How can I get rid of those stupid multirests in Sibelius?”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“Many of those who have influenced the reform […] have no love, and no veneration of that which has been handed down to us. They begin by despising everything that is actually there.”

— Cardinal Antonelli (Peritus during the Second Vatican Council)

Recent Posts

  • Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
  • Bishop François Charrière Vs. Hannibal Bugnini
  • 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.”

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