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Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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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 · August 25, 2022

Have You Done This?

Friends, have you done this yet? I’m talking about subscribing to our free mailing list. We beg you! Do this as soon as possible. Scroll to the bottom of any article, and you will see the place you input your email.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 25, 2022

“New Gregorian Chant Project” • Part 2

Using this coming Sunday (12th Sunday after Pentecost) as an example.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 23, 2022

PDF Download • Organ Accompaniment for Kyrie VIII (“Missa de Angelis”) by Jeff Ostrowski

I consider this my best organ accompaniment … I hope you like it!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 20, 2022

“New Section 2” • (Piecemeal Agnus Dei)

A wonderful way to get volunteers singing SATB polyphony immediately!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 17, 2022

PDF Download • Extremely Rare! — 1913 “Vesperale” by Schwann (954 pages)

Today’s release will go down in history!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 15, 2022

PDF • “Organ Interludes” (Manuals Only)

In graduate school, one is taught a valuable lesson: if you emphasize everything, nothing is emphasized. In other words, putting every other word in bold or italic (or both) wrecks your paper. I never to use the word “best”—but today I make an exception. The book of organ interludes released today by my colleague is […]

Jeff Ostrowski · August 15, 2022

“Wild Accompaniment” • Flor Peeters (Kyrie VIII)

Kyrie “Missa de Angelis”—recorded yesterday by a volunteer choir.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 9, 2022

“Could Women Sing At Mass Before Vatican II?”

Does this sound like a “hymn” to you? Or does it sound like a “chant” composition?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 8, 2022

PDF Download • “Salve Regina” (32 Versions)

In this article, I examine the elusive provenance of what some have called “the most popular piece of plainsong.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 4, 2022

For the Upcoming Choir Season!

Last week, I posted an SATB choral setting of the SANCTUS in a ‘contemporary’ style. You might want to consider this piece for two reasons: (1) It’s extremely brief; (2) Free rehearsal videos are available for each individual part. The piece is by Father Lhoumeau.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 2, 2022

Sequence For Martin Luther? • (Sung to the melody of “Victimae Paschali Laudes”)

Dr. Luca Ricossa has made a YouTube recording of this Sequence!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 1, 2022

C-SPAN Clip (1988) • “Return of the Latin Mass?”

“I guess we didn’t know what we had until we lost it…” —Special assistant to Nixon, Ford, and Reagan

Jeff Ostrowski · July 30, 2022

PDF Download • “Contemporary Sanctus” (SATB)

This SATB setting by Father Lhoumeau—although contemporary—certainly adheres to the “rule” of Pope Saint John Paul II.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 28, 2022

PDF Comparison Chart • “Which Has More Scripture?” — Ordinary or Extraordinary Form?

The answer surprised me!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 26, 2022

Open Letter to Bishop Roche • “12 Considerations”

I write in response to the 6 July 2022 statement by Pope Francis: “Make your voices heard! If they do not listen to you, shout even louder.”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“It would be a grave error to imagine that the principle orientation of the sacrificial action is towards the community. If the priest celebrates «VERSUS POPULUM», which is legitimate and often advisable, his spiritual attitude ought always to be «VERSUS DEUM PER JESUM CHRISTUM», as representative of the entire Church.”

— Official Vatican Statement (25 September 2000)

Recent Posts

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  • Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

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