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Corpus Christi Watershed

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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 · April 18, 2025

(2025) • “Vexilla Regis” + “Ubi Caritas”

But they said: “Lord, behold here are two swords.” And He said to them: “It is enough.” —Luke 22:38

Jeff Ostrowski · April 18, 2025

“Music List” • Easter Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in examining the “music list” I prepared for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 17, 2025

Caught on Video! • Choir Director’s Disturbing Holy Week “Meltdown”

Since Covid-19, many Catholic churches “live-stream” their Masses … and this disturbing footage emerged.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 15, 2025

PDF Download • Exceedingly Rare! — “The Torn Tunic” (122 pages) … published in 1967

Is Tito Casini correct that vernacular plainsong is a “sin against nature?”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 14, 2025

“Our Trials” • Choirmaster Crosses

How can we experience peace of soul when most people don’t even understand the mental trauma we deal with?

Jeff Ostrowski · April 13, 2025

PDF Download • “Easter Sunday Introit”

In accordance with the official edition.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 12, 2025

“Music List” • Holy Thursday

Readers have expressed interest in examining the “music list” I prepared for Maundy Thursday.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 11, 2025

PDF Download • “Communion” (Holy Thursday)

Its verses are quite beautiful.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 10, 2025

“Ubi Caritas” • Knox Translation (1950s)

What a treasure!

Jeff Ostrowski · April 10, 2025

“Music List” • Palm Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in examining the “music list” I prepared for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 9, 2025

PDF Download • “Offertory” (Palm Sunday)

Some believe that “joyful” texts sound happy in Gregorian Chant and “sad” texts sound mournful.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 8, 2025

“And the Chief Priests…” (Palm Sunday)

“And the chief priests made a plot against Lazarus’ life too…”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2025

“Articles for Bulletin” • Saint Mary’s in Muskegon

This series is for Saint Mary’s in Muskegon.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2025

Re: The “Restoration” of the Easter Vigil

It’s a strange type of “restoration” that rejoices over innovations that never existed before.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2025

Yesterday’s Offertory • ‘Live’ by 2 Young Women

A large choir isn’t necessary to have dignified music at Mass.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Gerard Manley Hopkins once argued that most people drank more liquids than they really needed and bet that he could go without drinking for a week. He persisted until his tongue was black and he collapsed at drill.”

— A biography of Fr. Gerard M. Hopkins (d. 1889)

Recent Posts

  • 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • “My First Year with the Latin Mass” • A Music Director’s Perspective
  • Boston Auxiliary Bishop: “In offering the Traditional Mass for the first time, after removing the vestments, I knelt in the back pew and wept.”
  • Now Available! • “Hymns of Cardinal Newman: Kevin Allen’s Legendary Choral Settings”
  • Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

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