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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 · January 6, 2025

Hidden Treasure!

What are you waiting for?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 6, 2025

PDF Download • Extremely Rare! —Solesmes “Graduale” acc. to the Official Rhythm (1,049 pages)

Doesn’t it stand to reason that we should sing from this edition in the manner its creators intended?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 4, 2025

“Music List” • Feast of the Epiphany

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the “music list” I prepared…

Jeff Ostrowski · January 3, 2025

PDF Download • “Communion Chant” (Epiphany)

Fully harmonized, including fabulous (optional) verses from the New Testament.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 2, 2025

“Entrance Chant” • Feast of the Epiphany

The authentic Gregorian Chant version begins the same way “Salve, Sancta Parens” begins…

Jeff Ostrowski · January 2, 2025

PDF Download • 129 Pages!

This book—now available as a PDF file—is 129 pages long!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 2, 2025

“Reminder” — Month of January (2025)

Since a new month has arrived, it’s my pleasure to remind you that…

Jeff Ostrowski · January 1, 2025

PDF Download • “What Child Is This” (Harmonized by the Von Trapp Family Singers)

Download this book—129 pages!—free of charge as a PDF: “The Trapp Family Book of Christmas Songs.”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 30, 2024

Accents Do Matter!

The upcoming feast of the Epiphany gives a good example…

Jeff Ostrowski · December 27, 2024

Year’s End Appeal • “Asking for Help”

As 2024 comes to a close, we could really use even a TINY amount of your generous financial support…

Jeff Ostrowski · December 27, 2024

“Music List” • Feast of the Holy Family

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the “music list” I have prepared for the Feast of the Holy Family.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 26, 2024

Bizarre Statements From “Leaflet Missal” Founder

Imagine blaming the rise of Adolf Hitler on the Church’s immemorial use of a ‘lingua sacra’ during Mass!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 25, 2024

PDF Download • From Cambridge: “Saint John Fisher Responsorial Psalms Collection” (253 Pages)

This 2024 collection incorporates responsorial psalms by many composers, particularly Catholic composers associated with Cambridge University.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 25, 2024

“Music List” • Midnight Mass (Christmas)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the “music list” we used at our Christmas Midnight Mass.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 24, 2024

“Silent Night” • Easy Organ Arrangement

Choirs will ‘pick up’ this piece up with minimal rehearsal time.

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President’s Corner

    Music List • (Palm Sunday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Palm Sunday—a.k.a. “Dominica in palmis de Passione Domini”—which is 29 March 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The OFFERTORY (Impropérium exspectávit cor meum) is quite moving. Even though the COMMUNION ANTIPHON is relatively simple, the Fauxbourdon makes it sound outstanding.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Easter • Would You Sing This Hymn?
    He who examines Laudes Dei: a hymnal for Catholic congregations (St. Louis, 1894) will discover this pairing of a hymn for Easter. For the record, this isn’t the only Catholic hymn book to marry that text and melody; e.g. Saint Mark’s Hymnal for Use in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States (Peoria, 1910) does the same thing. Sometimes an unexpected pairing—chosen with sensitivity—can be superb, forcing singers to experience the text in a ‘fresh’ and wonderful way. On the other hand, we sometimes encounter something I’ve called “PERNICIOUS HYMN PAIRINGS.” If you find the subject in intriguing, feel free to peruse an article I published in May of 2023. As always, my email inbox is open if you have a bone to pick with my take.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
    In 2003, I copied a book by Félix Bélédin (d. 1895), who was titular organist—from 1841 to 1874—at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Lyon (France). In 2008, we scanned and uploaded the book to the Lalande Online Library. Nobody knows for sure when the book was published; some believe it first appeared in the 1840s. In any event, one who examines this excerpt, showing GLORIA IX might wonder why it says the organ answers in plainsong. However, the front of the book explains, telling the organist explicitly when to “respond in plainchant.” This is something called organ alternatim. Believe it or not, the pipe organ would take turns with the choir, playing certain texts instrumentally instead of having them sung. I’m not very well-versed in this—pardon the pun—but if memory serves, ORGAN ALTERNATIM was frowned upon by the time of Pope Saint Pius X. Nevertheless, French organists kept doing it, even after it was explicitly condemned as an abuse.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“For any member of laity, who is at least somewhat literate, the ignorance of the Latin tongue, which we can call a truly Catholic language, indicates a certain lack of affection towards the Church.”

— Pope Pius IX

Recent Posts

  • Fulton J. Sheen • “24-Hour Catechism”
  • Music List • (Palm Sunday, 2026)
  • Easter • Would You Sing This Hymn?
  • “Priest Saying Mass” • Medieval Illumination
  • From Sentiment to Sacrament: Reclaiming Sacred Music for the Wedding Mass

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