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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), and did graduate work in Musicology. He serves as choirmaster for the new FSSP parish in Los Angeles, where he resides with his wife and children.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Jeff Ostrowski · March 7, 2021

A Beautiful Lenten Hymn • “How It Sounds”

People were asking how it sounds…so here’s a live recording from last week.

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 5, 2021

4 March 2021 • Can you spare 15 seconds?

Due to Covid-19, California has basically been under “lock down” for 11 months, and these restrictions have had quite a detrimental effect on choral programs. We are frequently limited to just 2-3 singers, on account of regulations by the government and our Archdiocese. However, although the number of singers is quite small, I was struck […]

Jeff Ostrowski · March 4, 2021

Now Online! • “Missale Romanum” (1615 edition)

How ironic that this is being hosted by the Martin Luther University!

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 3, 2021

“Ash Wednesday” • Banned by YouTube after 93,000 Views!

Hurry up! — Download this video before it gets deleted again!

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 3, 2021

3 March 2021 • “A policeman” — really?

According to Monsignor Frederick R. McManus, there were “policemen” serving the Sanhedrin in the time of Our Blessed Lord. Look at this awful translation in the 1966 “Saint Andrew Bible Missal” from 1966. Yuck!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 28, 2021

(Screenshots) • Proving Holy Saturday Took Place In The Morning

Five reasons keeping Holy Saturday in the morning is a good idea.

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 26, 2021

“Homily: Second Sunday of Lent” • Father Valentine Young, OFM

I would not want a gift if it came from somebody who thought he had to give it to me.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 24, 2021

Is This Really The Same Church??

Whoever accompanies this piece on the organ did something—in my humble opinion—very clever!

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 23, 2021

“Old Solesmes” Method • What’s That?

I recently conducted an experiment…with surprising results.

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 17, 2021

PDF Download • “O Sacred Head Surrounded” … placed into Gregorian Chant!

Also provided: an organ accompaniment for “Jam Christe Sol Justitiae” (an ancient Catholic hymn for Lent).

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 16, 2021

PDF Download • “Daily Missal with Vespers for Sundays” by Dom Lefevbre (2,007 pages)

…including news Re: the 3rd edition of the Saint Edmund Campion Missal, scheduled to be released in April.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 16, 2021

Surprising Popularity!

One of our most popular downloads has proven to be the organ accompaniment to “The Monastery Hymnal” (131 pages). This book was compiled, arranged, and edited by Achille P. Bragers, who studied at the Lemmensinstituut (Belgium) about thirty years before that school produced the NOH. Bragers might be considered an example of Belgium “Stile Antico” […]

Jeff Ostrowski · February 16, 2021

15 February 2021 • To Capitalize…?

In the Introit for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost, there is a question regarding whether to capitalize the word “christi.” The Vulgata does not, because Psalm 27 is not specifically referring to Our Lord, but rather to God’s “anointed one.” However, Missals tend to capitalize it, such as the official 1962 Missal and also a […]

Jeff Ostrowski · February 15, 2021

15 February 2021 • “Sung vs. Spoken”

We have spoken quite a bit about “sung vs. spoken” antiphons. We have also noted that the texts of the Graduale Romanum sometimes don’t match the Missal texts (in the Extraordinary Form) because the Mass Propers are older than Saint Jerome’s Vulgate, and sometimes came from the ITALA versions of Sacred Scripture. On occasion, the […]

Jeff Ostrowski · February 14, 2021

PDF: “The Attack On The Vatican Edition: A Rejoinder”

Some readers have had difficulty finding this article, which we scanned and posted circa 2008, so here it is: The Attack On The Vatican Edition: A Rejoinder The Styria Press (Graz and Vienna), 1907. Reprinted in Caecilia, Vol 87, No. 1 (Spring, 1960). The article is by Dr. Peter Wagner, a student of Father Michael […]

Jeff Ostrowski · February 13, 2021

“Homily for Quinquagesima Sunday” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM

Sometimes I think we humans are becoming too smart—perhaps too smart for our own good.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 11, 2021

PDF Download • 1954 “Bragers Hymnal”—Accompaniment Edition (131 pages)

We have scanned this extremely rare hymnal, granted Imprimatur by Francis Cardinal Spellman on 15 February 1954.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 10, 2021

“Reform of the Reform” • Eight Lies We Were Told

We should evaluate things based on their merit.

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 10, 2021

10 February 2021 • “Follow the text…”

Gregorian Chant does not follow the example of Baroque composers, who strongly emphasize (“slam”) the tonic accent. Cantus Gregorianus has a very sophisticated way of honoring the text—an approach which goes far beyond the “goo goo gah gah” approach of slamming the tonic accent. Thousands of examples in the Gregorian repertoire demonstrate this reality, but […]

Jeff Ostrowski · February 7, 2021

“Homily for Sexagesima Sunday” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM

I had the good fortune of being assigned to the same mission field twice: the first time in 1956 when I was first ordained.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 5, 2021

5 February 2021 • “Tainted”

We have witnessed the downfall of so many “famous” Catholics—including priests—who had pretended to be holy, but were caught committing terrible sins. In a particular way, EWTN was harmed because several of their biggest stars were exposed. I was thinking about whether something holy can be “tainted,” and what that means. Fulton Sheen made mistakes, […]

Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2021

Ben Shapiro Teaches His Audience Music Theory!

Also included: “Can amateurs sing polyphony?”

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2021

3 February 2021 • “Politics”

A recent article—Glaring Omission from Post-Vatican II Lectionary—has generated enormous traffic, and has become one of our most popular articles. During that article, I made reference to our position on “political” articles. If anyone cares to know about my political views, please download: Only In Secret And With Horror. I have explained my views in […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 31, 2021

“Homily for Septuagesima Sunday” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM

I don’t know whether all of you will agree with me when I say: “life is not fair”—but I would imagine older people would agree.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2021

Glaring Omission from Post-Vatican II Lectionary

In the 1980s, Father Valentine wrote to a Vatican Congregation in Rome about this omission. It still hasn’t been fixed.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Young people have entrusted me with their absolute preference for the Extraordinary Form… […] But, above all, how can we understand—how can we not be surprised and deeply shocked—that what was the rule yesterday is prohibited today? Is it not true that prohibiting or suspecting the Extraordinary Form can only be inspired by the demon who desires our suffocation and spiritual death?”

— Cardinal Sarah to Edward Pentin (23 September 2019)

Recent Posts

  • Can You Spare 33 Seconds?
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  • PDF Download • Vespers for Holy Thursday?
  • PDF Download • “Sanctus for Three Voices” (Soprano, Alto, and Bass)

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