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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 · July 25, 2014

PDF Download: Mocquereau’s 1903 “Liber Usualis”

No longer the only one … but that’s OK.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 22, 2014

Altar Servers Caught In The Act?

These altar boys are going to get in trouble.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 22, 2014

The Supreme Court & Traditional Liturgy

In my opinion, Fr. Paul Scalia’s face resembles that of his father (Justice Antonin Scalia) … but I could be completely wrong about this.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 22, 2014

PHOTO: Cardinal Ratzinger Saying The Latin Mass

Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass in Weimar (Germany) in 1989 and 1999.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 20, 2014

Basic Steps To Improve Music At Your Parish — Part 6

You will not make progress at your parish unless you understand Pope Benedict’s “Unbelievably Big Kite” theory.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 19, 2014

Three Painless Ways To Begin Singing Propers … Without Losing Your Job

A peritus of the Council once suggested that certain parties detest the Mass Propers because they’re almost impossible to “hijack” with heterodox theology.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 19, 2014

Diary of Cardinal Antonelli (1964): “How Exactly Should The Vatican II Mass Look?”

If Pope Pius V or Gregory the Great were to come back, they ought to see that the Mass after Vatican II has substantially remained the same.” — Secretary of the Consilium

Jeff Ostrowski · July 18, 2014

Inaccurate Statements About Translations Of The Mass Propers (A Pet Peeve)

The quickest way to make this clear to a skeptical priest or liturgist is to request that they bring you some Offertory antiphons from MR3. (They don’t exist!)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 17, 2014

PDF Download: “Propers” by A. Edmonds Tozer and “Propers” by Father Theodore Labouré

“The law of the Church plainly declares that, whenever High Mass is celebrated, the Proper of the Mass must be sung or at least recited.” — Fr. Labouré (1922)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 14, 2014

WLP Vice President Mentions The Jogues Missal (Without Realizing It)

“I am desperately trying to understand how what I experienced yesterday is not a separate rite.” — Dr. Jerry Galipeau

Jeff Ostrowski · July 14, 2014

Benjamin Franklin Composed A String Quartet

Why must the music at Wedding receptions be blasted at such a deafening volume? What can be done?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 14, 2014

The Real Trouble With Missalettes

Did you catch that last quotation? “Unless proper readings are given.” What does that passage mean?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 9, 2014

Priests Embarrassed To Wear Distinctive Garb

Boy … what a difference a true leader makes!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 8, 2014

A 1969 Quote Bugnini Wishes He Could Retract

“Hundreds of millions of Catholics can now pray to God in their own languages and not in meaningless sounds…” — Annibale Bugnini

Jeff Ostrowski · July 7, 2014

What Should Female Lectors Wear At Mass?

Not one shred of iconographical evidence contradicts the alb as being a priestly vestment.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Simplified Accompaniment (Easter Hymn)
    Number 36 in the Brébeuf Hymnal is “At the Lamb’s high feast we sing,” an English translation for Ad Cenam Agni Próvidi (which was called “Ad Régias Agni Dapes” starting 1631). As of this morning, you can download a simplified keyboard accompaniment for it. Simple click here and scroll to the bottom. Many organists are forced to serve simultaneously as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult—which explains why choirmasters appreciate these simplified keyboard accompaniments. Sadly, many readers will click that link but forget to scroll to the bottom where the simplified PDF file is located.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Quasi Modo Sunday”
    The Introit for “Quasi Modo Sunday” (12 April 2026) is particularly beautiful. The musical score can be downloaded as a PDF file, and so can the organ accompaniment. The official language of the Catholic Church is Latin (whereas Greek is our mother tongue). Vatican II said Gregorian Chant must be given “first place” under normal circumstances. As a result, some parishes will rightly sing the authentic version. On the other hand, because so many USA dioceses disobey the mandate of Vatican II, some musicians sing plainsong in the vernacular. I have attempted to simultaneously accompany myself on the pipe organ while singing the English version. Although very few take advantage of it, the complete Proprium Missae is posted at the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘German’ Introductions for Hymns
    German organ books have an enchanting habit of including introductions for each and every hymn. For example, consider this snazzy example found in a German hymnal published in 1902. In the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal, that melody is called “Laudes Mariae” and was married to Omni Die Dic Mariae, with a popular English translation (“Daily, daily, sing to Mary”) by Father Henry Bittleston, an Oratorian priest. Notice they also added a ‘tailpiece’ or ‘playout’ or postlude at the end—a very German thing to do!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)
    On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Church, which so long had preserved Latin consciously as a bond of unity, had quite suddenly decided to discard it as a useless encumbrance. With this rejection, and as an almost inevitable consequence, went out the window also the whole magnificent musical heritage of the Church. For when you change your language you also change your song. The Jewish exiles hanging their harps beside the waters of Babylon, so long ago, made that discovery.”

— Most Rev’d Robert J. Dwyer, Archbishop of Portland (26 October 1973)

Recent Posts

  • Simplified Accompaniment (Easter Hymn)
  • PDF Download • “Quasi Modo Sunday”
  • ‘German’ Introductions for Hymns
  • Fascinating Interpretation of the “Regina Caeli” (Solemn Tone)
  • PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite” + Psalm Verses

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