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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 31, 2024

PDF Download • “Pew Edition” — Monsignor Martin B. Hellriegel’s Hymnal (149 Pages)

Including never-before-released photographs of Monsignor Martin B. Hellriegel.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 30, 2024

“Polyphonic Sanctus” by J.S. Bach • Jeff Attempts All Voices (Even the Girls’ Vocals)

The occasion I speak of is when he stopped by our home to see us one final time.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 29, 2024

PDF Score • “Mass Setting I Wrote For Corrinne”

I demonstrate how the “Kyrie Eleison” can be adapted for use in the Extraordinary Form.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 27, 2024

“Saint Mark” • Hymn Tune

Regarding the hymn tune called “ST MARK”—have you ever heard or sung this? If you scroll towards the bottom of this recent article, you can hear my choir (which is made up 100% of volunteers) singing it. Some people say the ST MARK melody sounds a little ‘protestant.’ What do you think? I rather like […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 26, 2024

Eucharistic Hymn With Gorgeous Tenor Line

Responding to an inquiry from Wendy Q.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 26, 2024

Do not read this!

She probably never actually said this, but leave that aside for the moment.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 24, 2024

“Seeking Employment” • Please help!

You can download my official résumé.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2024

Response to Mike’s Letter • “Six Concrete Examples”

“I would dismiss it as the second text writer being lazy and stealing someone else’s music…” —Michael H.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · January 18, 2024

Gregorian Chant … with a drone?

It’s possible to sing Carmen Gregorianum with a drone note (a.k.a. “ison”) but is this always a good idea? I’ve heard it done very poorly. We tried singing GLORIA IX with an ison last Sunday. Feel free to listen to this excerpt (Mp3) and let me know your thoughts.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 18, 2024

Abbat Pothier on Gregorian Chant

“There is, then, in the Church, in the Catholic liturgy, a music that, as we have just stated, is both a word and a song, a music rich and powerful, although simple and natural, a music that is not self-seeking, which does not attend to itself but comes forth as the spontaneous utterance of religious […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 17, 2024

PDF Download • “Credo III + Polyphonic Extension”

When I just couldn’t take it anymore, I called up a friend on the telephone and paid him $150 to teach me.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 16, 2024

Which Hymns Are Appropriate After Christmas?

How many Catholics realize how closely the feast of the Epiphany is tied to the Holy Eucharist and Calvary?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 12, 2024

Organ Accompaniment Booklet (25 pages)

Those who celebrate VESPERS each week may wish to download my organ accompaniment booklet (25 pages) for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany. This was originally released about a year ago (link), but minor improvements have been made.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 12, 2024

“O Magnum Mysterium” • Do You Sing This?

The Consilium of Pope Paul VI asked (15 March 1965): “Is it pleasing that the feast of the Holy Family be suppressed?”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 11, 2024

Know your hymns? How Well?

Several singers from my choir recently recorded this beautiful hymn (Mp3), using famous lyrics from the Brébeuf Hymnal. How well do you know your hymns? Can you name that tune? If so, please email us. If you correctly name that tune, I’ll declare: “You really know your hymns!”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on which source text is chosen and what each translator wants to emphasize. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“You should try to eat their food in the way they prepare it, although it may be dirty, half-cooked, and very tasteless. As to the other numerous things which may be unpleasant, they must be endured for the love of God, without saying anything or appearing to notice them.”

— Fr. Paul Le Jeune (1637)

Recent Posts

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  • Important Quote by a Church Musician
  • Fulton J. Sheen Played The Pipe Organ!
  • “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • Dr. Samuel Backman • “Rooted In Tradition: The Allegory of a Tree”

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