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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 · November 18, 2013

“Look Beyond The Bread You Eat” (Part 2)

It dawned on me that nothing I’d been saying had made the slightest impact. I had literally been wasting my breath.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 15, 2013

A Dream Come True: 1965 Missal Online!

“The Conference of Bishops has given permission that, when a qualified man is not
available, a woman may proclaim the readings prior to the gospel, while standing outside the sanctuary.” — 1970 Statement

Jeff Ostrowski · November 14, 2013

More Thoughts On The 3-Year Lectionary …

“The Instruction pretends that we actually do have Propers for the Mass, whereas everyone knows that today the Mass Propers are sung perhaps at one Mass in ten thousand.” — Professor László Dobszay

Jeff Ostrowski · November 11, 2013

When Rome Gets It Wrong

“Many a pope has gone through his entire pontificate without making a single infallible statement.” — Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Jeff Ostrowski · November 11, 2013

The Archer Loves The Arrow And The Bow

If you tend to cry a lot, don’t read this poem.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2013

“For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours”

A mystery! The 1970s ICEL seems not to have included these words, even though they were in the official Latin …

Jeff Ostrowski · November 5, 2013

Black Vestments & Wisdom From Wives

Following the Second Vatican Council, black vestments aren’t usually worn because they’re considered too “spooky and scary.”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 5, 2013

What’s So Great About The Mass Propers?

“If the world is progressing intellectually, should not the existence of God have been defined in the 1st century and the nature of the Trinity in the 19th?” — Fulton J. Sheen

Jeff Ostrowski · November 2, 2013

Pope Francis Celebrates Mass “Ad Orientem”

Pope Francis celebrating in this manner was a bit of a surprise, since members of his generation aren’t usually accustomed to “turning their backs on the people.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 30, 2013

Definition Of Liturgical “Piccoluomini” ?

Human beings are “geared” toward annual events. Our minds, emotions, and memories simply aren’t programmed to work in 3-year cycles.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 28, 2013

A Culture Obsessed With Sensationalism

It’s bizarre that both conductor and pianist were too lazy to discuss things like tempi beforehand.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 28, 2013

What Do We Think Of Cell Phones At Mass?

I have noticed a certain tendency at EF Masses which causes me concern. Please allow me to “think out loud” and let me know your thoughts, as well.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 28, 2013

At Mass This Sunday …

The priest intoned the Gloria … a truly magnificent effect!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 25, 2013

How Bad Was It?

Someday, my children might ask: “Do you remember the first ICEL translation of the Roman Missal?”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 24, 2013

Details About Sung Masses In “The Old Days”

“During a High Mass, the Choir will begin the Graduale etc. while the Priest recites the Epistle.” — St. Gregory Hymnal (1941)

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • (5th Sund. Ordinary Time)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for this coming Sunday, 8 February 2026, which is the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. You will probably notice it isn’t as ‘complete’ or ‘spiffy’ as usual, owing to some difficulties which took place this week.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Communion” (5th Sunday in Ordin.)
    The COMMUNION ANTIPHON for this coming Sunday, 8 February 2026—which is the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)—is truly delightful. You can download the musical score completely free of charge. This text will be familiar to altar boys, because it’s PSALM 42. The Feder Missal makes the following claim about that psalm: “A hymn of a temple musician from Jerusalem: he is an exile in a heathen land, and he longs for the holy city and his ministry in the Temple there. The Church makes his words her own.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Funeral Music “Template” • For Families
    Many have requested the MUSICAL TEMPLATE for funerals we give to families at our parish. The family of the deceased is usually involved in selecting Number 12 on that sheet. This template was difficult to assemble, because the “Ordo Exsequiarum” has never been translated into English, and the assigned chants and hymns are given in different liturgical books (Lectionary, Gradual, Order of Christian Funerals, and so on). Please notify me if you spot errors or broken links. Readers will be particularly interested in some of the plainsong musical settings, which are truly haunting in their beauty.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Reminder” — Month of Febr. (2026)
    On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”
    I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)
    I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

But the revisers did not leave them altogether untouched. Saint Ambrose had to be “corrected.” The ‘Iste Confessor’ was greatly altered and the hymn for the Dedication of a Church (which no one ought to have touched) was completely recast in a new meter.

— Father Joseph Connelly

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