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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 · October 23, 2013

Concerning Proofreading And Capitalization

Some editors believe in their hearts there is only one “correct” way

Jeff Ostrowski · October 23, 2013

The Secret “Mora Vocis” of the Vatican Edition

Here are seven (7) videos explaining how to sing according to the rhythm of the Editio Vaticana (Vatican Edition) created by Abbot Pothier at the request of Pope Pius X.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 22, 2013

Does The Vatican II Lectionary Distort Scripture?

“I have noticed that when the present Lectionary occasionally proposes a ‘Shorter Form’ for one of the Gospel readings, the lines edited are something Our Lord said that comfortable people would rather He had not said.” — Fr. George W. Rutler

Jeff Ostrowski · October 21, 2013

Jimmy Stewart … and Church Music Regulations?

“Whenever school children must be placed in the choir loft at High Mass, the Boys may sing but the Girls must keep silent, unless the whole congregation takes part in the singing.” — Diocese of Pittsburgh Regulations (1931)

Jeff Ostrowski · October 21, 2013

Bishop Carroll and Vernacular in the Liturgy c. 1787

“In this country either for want of books or inability to read, the great part of our congregations must be utterly ignorant of the meaning and sense of the publick offices of the Church.” — Archbishop of Baltimore (1787)

Jeff Ostrowski · October 21, 2013

Alfons Cardinal Stickler, Peritus during Vatican II

When a certain bishop stood up at Vatican II and expressed concern that “the entire Mass might be held in the language of the people,” the entire hall burst into uproarious laughter.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 17, 2013

Six Girls In High School … Sensational New CD!

“Stella Splendens” features unaccompanied sacred vocal music sung by six ladies in high school.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 16, 2013

Beautiful Vestments Vs. Ugly Vestments

Has anyone else noticed this?

Jeff Ostrowski · October 15, 2013

Replacing the Entrance Chant With A Hymn Or Song?

This short video might annoy your friends … yet it just might get us thinking!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 14, 2013

Why Some Older Priests Hate Liturgy

“Impelled by the weightiest of reasons, we are fully determined to restore Latin to its position of honor.” — Blessed John XXIII (22 February 1962)

Jeff Ostrowski · October 13, 2013

True Liturgical Abuse … And Rex Harrison

On 17 April 1980, Blessed John Paul II approved and confirmed a document saying, “Females are not permitted to act as altar servers.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 11, 2013

1945 Vernacular Mass Card (German)

I always enjoy seeing “participation aids” from days of old …

Jeff Ostrowski · October 11, 2013

Addams Family Theme Song … At Mass?

Is it really true that any style of music can be lawfully used at Mass?

Jeff Ostrowski · October 10, 2013

Ron Paul & Pope Francis

A Catholic bishop once said to me: “One of the greatest proofs of the truth of Christianity is the fact that the Church is still here in spite of the incompetence and villainy of her frail priests and all-too-human bishops.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 8, 2013

“It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”

I took Latin in school, and one day someone asked me, “Did you know that in the Middle Ages the Mass used to be in Latin?” I thought, “I wish that still happened, somewhere on earth.”

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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

“…it would be a very praiseworthy thing and the correction would be so easy to make that one could accommodate the chant by gradual changes; and through this it would not lose its original form, since it is only through the binding together of many notes put under short syllables that they become long without any good purpose when it would be sufficient to give one note only.”

— Zarlino (1558) anticipating the Medicæa

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