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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.”

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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 2, 2026

“Adeste Fideles” • Too Many Translations!

Broadly speaking, only one has attained general use throughout the English-speaking world…

Jeff Ostrowski · December 30, 2025

Psalm Tone Challenge!

If you know a shorter one, please email me!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 27, 2025

“Kaitrin Drost Strikes Again!” • Plus a Few Random Thoughts and Tirades by Jeff Ostrowski

Imagine walking up into a choir loft and sounding like these young ladies without rehearsal.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 26, 2025

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

Please play through it and let me know what you think.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 23, 2025

💰 Are Church Musicians Paid Too Little?

I came very close to paying an unspeakably severe price.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 21, 2025

PDF Download • “In Paradisum” in English

If anyone wants to download this organ accompaniment, feel free to do so!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 19, 2025

“O Antiphons” Elevated?

From what I can tell, the 1970 rubrics moved each “O Antiphon” to the Gospel Acclamation at Mass (in late December).

Jeff Ostrowski · December 18, 2025

PDF • “Music List” (Sunday, 28 December)

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

Jeff Ostrowski · December 16, 2025

Should Catholics Sing Protestant Christmas Carols?

Including the “music list” I have prepared for Christmas Midnight Mass.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 16, 2025

PDF • “Music List” (Xmas Midnight Mass)

Readers have expressed interest in examining the “music list” I prepared for Christmas Midnight Mass.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 16, 2025

What does this mean? “Pre-Urbanite”

This topic I had believed to be fairly well understood—but I was wrong.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 14, 2025

PDF • “Standard Gregorian Chants for Schools, Churches, Seminaries, & Convents” (1946) —123 pages

Until a few days ago, I knew nothing of this (extremely rare) book. Now it’s been scanned and uploaded—free to all.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 11, 2025

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in examining the “music list” I prepared for the 4th Sunday of Advent.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 11, 2025

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

A brief, bright, stately setting.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 10, 2025

Crucial Tips • “Teaching Children How to Sing”

When it comes to the children, I help them memorize each word…

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Samaritánæ” (3rd Sunday of Lent)
    With regard to the COMMUNION for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (Year A), the Ordo Cantus Missae—which was published in 1969 by the Vatican, bearing Hannibal Bugnini’s signature and approbation in its PREFACE—inexplicably introduced a variant melody and slightly different words, as you can see by this comparison chart. When it comes to such items, they’re always done in secrecy by unnamed people. (Although it is known that Dom Eugène Cardine collaborated in the creation of the GRADUALE SIMPLEX, a book considered by some to be a travesty.)
    —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 • “Cantus Mariales” (192 pages)
    Andrea Leal has posted an absolutely pristine scan of CANTUS MARIALES (192 pages) which can be downloaded as a PDF file. To access this treasure, navigate to the frabjous article Andrea posted Monday. The file is being offered completely free of charge. The beginning pages of the book have something not to be missed: viz. a letter from Pope Saint Pius X to Dom Pothier, in which the pope calls Abbat Pothier “a man versed above all others in the science of liturgy, and to whom the cause of Gregorian chant is greatly indebted.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Grotesque Pairing • “Passion Chorale”
    One of our rarest releases was undoubtably this PDF scan of the complete Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) by Father Joseph Roff, a student of Healey Willan. One of the scarcest titles in existence, this book was provided to us by Mr. Peter Meggison. Back in 2018, we scanned each page and uploaded it to our website, making it freely available to everyone. Readers are probably sick of hearing me say this, but just because we upload something that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wonderful or worthy of imitation. We upload many publications precisely because they are ‘grotesque’, interesting, or revealing. Whereas the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal had an editorial board that was careful and sensitive vis-à-vis pairing texts with tunes, the Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) seems to have been rather reckless in this regard. Please take a look at what they did with the PASSION CHORALE and see whether you agree.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Extreme Unction
    Those who search Google for “CCCC MS 079” will discover high resolution images of a medieval Pontificale (“Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 079”). One of the pages contains this absolutely gorgeous depiction of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”
    I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“But when all aids to a good translation of the Psalms have been made use of, it often happens, from various causes, that some words or phrases of a Psalm remain obscure or unintelligible to the reader. Then it is that explanatory Notes become necessary.”

— Father Charles J. Callan (who founded “The Homiletic and Pastoral Review”)

Recent Posts

  • “Samaritánæ” (3rd Sunday of Lent)
  • Grotesque Pairing • “Passion Chorale”
  • PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
  • PDF • “Cantus Mariales” (192 pages)
  • PDF Download • Fourteen (14) Versions of the Splendid Hymn: “Salve Mater Misericordiae”

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