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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 28, 2023

Crucial Tip For Choir Directors

Don’t listen to excuses!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2023

Father Herbert Thurston • “I Fear the Man With One Book”

“Sometimes there was the possibility to be faced that a particular line of research could never be followed to a successful conclusion because the evidence was now no longer available.”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 26, 2023

26 January 2023 • FEEDBACK

“Jeff, I wanted to personally thank you for your spiritual witness at the Symposium & often blogs that you write too. Praying that prayer in the mornings My God, my Father and my all (by Cardinal Merry Del Val), mentioning saints’ stories of Brébeuf, Jogues, John Vianney, monks who fought in WWII, their hard work […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 26, 2023

Symposium Draft Schedule Released!

Those who head over to the Symposium Website will notice the tentative schedule for 2023 has been released. This is all very exciting! Very soon, we will begin accepting applications, so please make sure you have subscribed to our mailing list. If you are subscribed, that means you’ll hear announcements before anyone else. (It’s incredibly […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 25, 2023

Good Friday Polyphony by L. Senfl

The editor of the Sacred Music Magazine recently made available to the public this splendid article by our own Charles Weaver. It includes an edition of polyphony for the GOOD FRIDAY “Reproaches.” Renaissance composers often set the various offices of Holy Week; e.g. readers will probably be familiar with the beautiful TENEBRAE setting by Father […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 25, 2023

PDF Download • 1909 “Modern Notation” Gradual (Extremely Rare) — 712 Pages

The truth is stranger than fiction.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2023

Folk Mass Clip • Priest Facing “Ad Orientem”

Then he got really angry (because it dawned on him what he’d just admitted).

Jeff Ostrowski · January 21, 2023

Coming Soon! • Symposium 2023

A few weeks ago, dates were announced for Sacred Music Symposium 2023. The rehearsal videos are beginning to appear! For example, the KYRIE ELEYSON contains sections by Lassus, Victoria, and Palestrina. You can see and hear Part 1 at this link. Much more information about this wonderful conference will be released soon!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 21, 2023

“Have We Gone Mainstream?”

A choir member alerted my wife to this video by Scott Hahn. You perhaps recognize a piece that’s been highly promoted by Corpus Christi Watershed: viz. Father Guerrero’s “Sanctus” from Missa Iste Sanctus. I would be interested to learn which choir made the recording (which heavily abbreviates the piece) and whether they used our rehearsal […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 17, 2023

PDF Download • “Keenly Rare!” • Gregorian Chant Booklet on 5 Lines (1920) — 326 Pages

There must have been a need for such a booklet, otherwise he would not have gone to the trouble of creating it!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 17, 2023

Church Music • “Should It Make Your Congregation Happy or Sad?”

If your priest approaches you after Mass and says the music sounded horrible, it’s incorrect to reply: “Well, that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 16, 2023

Desperate! • Needing help after robbery

A few years ago, I had valuable books stolen. Recovery efforts with law enforcement have failed, so I’m reaching out to our readers. Can somebody help me obtain VOLUME II and VOLUME VIII of the Nova organi harmonia published in the 1940s and 1950s by the LEMMENSINSTITUUT? As far as I can tell, these volumes can’t […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 15, 2023

PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment Booklet” (25 pages) — Vespers, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany

The internet is putting good people in touch with one another.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 14, 2023

Video • “Counting Gregorian Chant” … according to Dom Mocquereau’s Method

The example chosen is the strenuous offertory (“Jubiláte Déo”) for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 13, 2023

Hymn Experiment • “Does This Work?”

If memory serves, his exact words were: “Gee, I never thought about that before.” Astonishing!

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Dom Pothier • Photo from 1904
    Dom Paul Cagin, in a 1904 publication (L’oeuvre de Solesmes dans la restauration du chant grégorien) made sure to include a beautiful image of Dom Pothier, the legendary abbot of St-Wandrille. Also shown is a very young Dom André Mocquereau. Auguste Pécoul—considered the spiritual “son” of Abbat Prosper Guéranger of Solesmes—wrote as follows on 24 June 1901: “To forestall any confusion, let us remember that there is just one Gregorian notation—that restored, according to the ancient manuscripts, by the eminent Abbot of Saint-Wandrille, Dom Pothier.” ✠
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)
    I believe 99% of our readers will recognize this hymn tune. Perhaps Father Edgard De Laet should have called it a ‘hymn’ instead of a ‘motet for three voices’—but he’s technically correct, since MOTET is defined as: “a short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied.” The even verses are for three voices, as you will see if you download the PDF score at #20245. The odd verses may be song a cappella SATB or unison with organ.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Hymn for 2 Voices”
    Readers who click on this video will see that it starts with verses of the “Pange Lingua” hymn by Saint Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274) arranged for two voices. However, there’s a polyphonic refrain (“Tantum Ergo”) for three voices, taken from Kevin Allen’s Motecta Trium Vocum. If your choir is very small, this piece is for you! You can download the PDF score free of charge—and you can also utilize the rehearsal videos for each individual voice—by navigating yourself to #20323.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    “Reminder” — Month of January (2026)
    On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)
    I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

On 26 July 1916—during the German occupation of Belgium—a student choir led by Van Nuffel performed his setting of the psalm “Super flumina Babylonis” in Saint Rumbold’s Cathedral. The text and the musical setting very aptly expressed the depressed and rebellious mood of the population. The acclaim was enormous, and it laid the foundation for Van Nuffel’s formation of the Saint Rumbold’s choir.

— Unknown

Recent Posts

  • Dom Pothier • Photo from 1904
  • PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”
  • PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)
  • PDF Download • “Hymn for 2 Voices”
  • (January 2026) • “Children Singing Plainsong”

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