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 · July 19, 2026

SLANE • “Simplified” Keyboard Arr.

Do you know ‘SLANE’ the hymn tune?

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 16, 2026

Insane Baroque-Era Dissonance!

There is no more dissonant chord than this in the entire Baroque era!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 13, 2026

Explanation of Gregorian Chant • “Using Words Mama Can Understand”

Do you see how each Latin accent is ‘shifted’ to the final syllable, as if they were French words?

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 3, 2026

Organist and Choirmaster (Birmingham Oratory)

You simply must play this chord!

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 2, 2026

‘Ould’ But Not Good

Not everything found in an old book is necessarily praiseworthy.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 1, 2026

PDF Download • Vocal Warm-Up for Choirs — “Harmonized Minor Scale” Exercise

This was used by Father Edgard De Laet as a vocal warm-up for his choirs.

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 30, 2026

“Website Subscriptions” • (Update: 30 June 2026)

A small subscription. An enormous library. An eternal tradition.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 29, 2026

Unbelievable (Yet Undeniable) Reality Re: Our Current Lectionary • PDF Included—124 Pages

Giving away to readers—on 29 June 2026—my ultimate treasure!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 26, 2026

PDF Download • New Westminster Hymnal (472 pages) “Transcribed” — 34,600 words!

Some consider this the single most valuable book we ever scanned and uploaded.

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 25, 2026

Music List • (15th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for Sunday (12 July 2026).

Jeff Ostrowski · June 25, 2026

This Is Precisely What’s Hated By Purists

Often, the Latin in the Roman Gradual is more ancient (!) than Saint Jerome’s Vulgate.

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 23, 2026

Shortest Psalm In The Bible

The Germans did something splendid here!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 23, 2026

“Christ The King Hymnal” (Keyboard Edition) • All English Translations Typed Out—22,000 words

Back in 2015, we carefully scanned and uploaded this rare keyboard accompaniment for Father Knauff’s “Christ the King Hymnal” (published in Canada).

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Music List • (29th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC which I created for this coming Sunday, the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The INTROIT for this Sunday explains why this Sunday is called “Apple Sunday.” As we approach the end of the liturgical year, most of the INTROITS seem to be in Mode III or Mode IV, which are ‘haunting’ tones.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Holy, Holy, Holy” transposed lower

A simple setting based on a work by Canon Jules Vyverman.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (27th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday: 4 October 2026

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—Jeff Ostrowski

Preface of Saint Joseph (added by the pope)

You can see the “Præfatio de Sancto Joseph” inserted directly into the priest’s missal.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

“Predictable Rhymes?” • A Follow Up

We received considerable correspondence regarding my article, Two Ways to Defile a Hymn. More specifically, what really raised certain people’s hackles was its follow-up article dealing with the keyboard accompaniment for the CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL. But to quote Eliza Doolittle: “Have I said anything I oughtn’t?” Please examine this PDF file and see whether you agree. Were the editors of the BRÉBEUF HYMNAL incorrect to insist upon sophisticated and clever rhymes, rather than mind-numbingly predictable rhymes?

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Ould’ But Not Good

Dom Samuel Gregory Ould (note the spelling) was a Benedictine monk at FORT AUGUSTUS ABBEY in Scotland. As musician, organist, and composer, Dom Ould was highly regarded. Moreover, he was considered an authority on Gregorian Chant. But not everything found in an old book—or, in this case, an “Ould” book—is necessarily praiseworthy. Consider this page from Dom Ould’s hymnal. Do you see the rhymes? They offend severely by ABR (“Abuse By Reuse”) and are utterly predictable. In my recent article—Two Ways to Defile a Hymn—I addressed this topic.

—Jeff Ostrowski