Corpus Christi Watershed

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.”

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).

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Re: “Sacred Music Symposium” (2024)

Today, an announcement was sent out regarding the 2024 Sacred Music Symposium. If you’re not subscribed to our mailing list, you missed this announcement. I’ve tried everything I can think of to get folks to subscribe to our mailing list. Simply scroll to the bottom of any CCW article and enter your email address. It […]

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“Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment

Are you an inexperienced organist? Were you formally a pianist? I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #124 in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal. I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to benefit amateur organists. What is your opinion of such a project? Let me […]

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Offered in a Spirit of Dialogue

Pope Francis said famously: “To dialogue entails a cordial reception, not a prior condemnation.” The following brief utterances of mine are offered in that spirit. Pope Saint Pius X called the sacred liturgy “the primary and indispensable source of the true Christian spirit.” If the reformers had told the fathers of Vatican II they desired […]

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Polyphony For Three Voices!

Writing excellent music is easier in four voices than three. We often sing from MATRI DIVINAE GRATIAE, a 3-voice collection by Kevin Allen for Soprano, Alto, and Bass. Someone made a recording of my volunteer choir singing “Si Ambulávero” (from that collection). This “raw recording” starts toward the end of the psalm tone then launches […]

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PDF Download • “Chant Chart”

A thoughtful priest from another country wrote me a magnificent message praising a PDF comparison chart I recently posted. It deals with “staffless” CARMEN GREGORIANUM (Gregorian Chant). Download it for free by scrolling to the bottom of this article. Of course, I hope you will read the article instead of just scrolling past it.

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