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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 · April 22, 2013

“Episcopalian” Music vs. “Catholic” Music? Wrong question!

Can you hear “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” in this video from an Episcopalian Church taken on Easter Sunday, 2013?

Jeff Ostrowski · April 15, 2013

Fr. George Rutler Weighs In On The Campion Missal

“Attractively, even elegantly, produced, the appearance of this Missal and Hymnal is appropriate to the high quality of the contents . . .” — Rev. George William Rutler

Jeff Ostrowski · April 13, 2013

Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani (1890-1979)

“The rite of Holy Mass should not be treated as if it were a piece of cloth to be refashioned according to the whim of each generation.”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 11, 2013

PDF Download • Instruction on Sacred Music (“De Musica Sacra”) • Issued by Pope Pius XII in 1958

Don’t you hate it when you think you know the answer to something . . . and then you find out you were dead wrong? This happened to me regarding the congregation reciting Mass Propers in the Extraordinary Form.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 8, 2013

The Latin Mass Has Come Such A Long Way!

“The greatest problem of the new missal, at least in English-speaking countries, lay in the miserable translation that was imposed upon priests and people. Many prayers were so mistranslated that a student of first-year Latin would have done better.” — Msgr. Richard Schuler, 1984

Jeff Ostrowski · April 5, 2013

“Chronicles of Narnia” by Msgr. Richard Schuler

“The hootenanny Mass can give explicit eucharistic and christological specification to youth’s intense involvement in the movements for racial justice, for control of nuclear weapons, for the recognition of personal dignity.” — “Worship Magazine” (January 1966)

Jeff Ostrowski · April 4, 2013

Reflections From The Editor Of The Campion Missal & Hymnal

For the sake of argument, let us pretend the sentence were true. How many times should one read such commentary? Each time one attends Mass? Surely not. Twice, perhaps? Thrice? Would it not be better to leave such commentary to a separate devotional book?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 30, 2013

Which Instruments Are Allowed At Mass?

Fr. Hogan’s argument reminds me of a comment by Fr. George Rutler, quoting Victor Borge: “My father and uncle were identical twins, but I never knew which was the identical one.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2013

The Pius X Hymnal by Dr. Theodore Marier

In conclusion, although I have tremendous respect for Dr. Theodore Marier, I expected a lot more from this book based on its “reputation.” I hope my honest observations do not offend anyone.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 25, 2013

Jesuits, Juilliard, And The Latin Mass In Florida

“When you attend the Latin Mass, what you realize is, it doesn’t really matter how you feel that day, whether you feel happy or sad: you’re entering into something far greater than you.” — Fr. J. Patrick Hough, S.J.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 24, 2013

Why We Must Never Fail To Sing Holy Music At Mass

For this reason, we must never say, “I cannot be bothered to spend half an hour studying the music for Sunday’s Mass.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 24, 2013

Dom Gregory Murray’s People’s Mass & Holy Week

Here is Dom Gregory Murray’s “People’s Mass” in Latin. Somebody could take this, insert the new Translation, and make a lot of money. P.S. What’s it doing in Lapierre’s Holy Week?!!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 23, 2013

Historic Meeting of . . . Two Popes? Awesome!

I am not a person who “gets emotional” very easily, but this meeting really touched my heart.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 22, 2013

Interview with Pope Francis While Still A Cardinal

“I admire the courage and uprightness of Pope Benedict on the subject.”—Pope Francis

Jeff Ostrowski · March 18, 2013

Msgr. Richard Schuler and the Piccoluomini

Sure enough, a few hours after the phone call, I happened to be searching the internet and I came upon the biography of Pope Pius II. What was his name before becoming pope? You guessed it !!!

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Responsorial Psalm Fauxbourdon?
    When it comes to singing Responsorial Psalms in Fauxbourdon, what does this sound like in practice? Can such a thing be done successfully with volunteer choirs in real Catholic parishes? Listen to this audio excerpt from Good Friday and see what you think. Our parish volunteer choir did so well this year—and the ceremonies were ‘standing room only’. For the record, that musical score can be downloaded (completely free of charge) from the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Easter Sunday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Easter Sunday—a.k.a. “Ad Missam in die Paschae”—which is 5 April 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The Fauxbourdon for Communion is particularly moving.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”
    Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.
    —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

In 1951 (and again in 1952 and 1955) the Sacred Congregation of Rites gave permission to the bishops of the whole world to celebrate the “Vigil of the Lord’s Resurrection” as much as possible in conformity with the ancient ceremonial: the most noticeable change was to transfer the ceremonies to the late evening of Holy Saturday. During the experimental period the text of the Missal remains unchanged, and a special “Ordo Sancti Sabbati” has been published.

— Charles Richard Anthony Cunliffe (1955)

Recent Posts

  • PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)
  • Gregorian Chant … with Organ Accompaniment?
  • Responsorial Psalm Fauxbourdon?
  • Music List • (Easter Sunday, 2026)
  • PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”

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