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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 · November 25, 2022

PDF Download • Traditional Notation Gradual-Book (692 Pages) on Five Lines!

This book makes it easy for singers who only know Treble Clef.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 20, 2022

PDF Download • “How Does the Official Rhythm Actually Sound?”

Including three (3) professionally-scanned versions of the Kyriale, released here for the 1st time!

Jeff Ostrowski · November 18, 2022

Directing Choirs • “Do You Have What It Takes?”

Church music should not be boring! Here I provide eleven (11) ways to keep it awesome.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 17, 2022

“Progress Made!” • 10-Nov-2022

My volunteer choir has felt the repercussions of this year’s (particularly severe) flu season. Nevertheless, I believe in always—always—giving one’s best as a choir director, even when many singers are absent. You can hear by this brief recording that our singers are starting to blend very nicely. And you can download that choral “warm-up” exercise […]

Jeff Ostrowski · November 16, 2022

Mark Your Calendars!

Have you marked your calendar for Sacred Music Symposium 2023? The dates were recently revealed. You don’t want to miss this! This annual event has gained a reputation as the church music conference par excellence vis-à-vis Catholic musicians “in the trenches.”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 16, 2022

PDF Download • Rare “Kyriale” Organ Accompaniment Book (175 pages)

Including a few brief responses to Professor Charles Weaver.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 14, 2022

A God We Cannot “See”

By the Incarnation, our Savior’s divinity was hidden. In the Eucharist, according to Saint Thomas Aquinas, our Savior also ‘hides’ His manhood. We cannot see God—although we can see Him (through faith) in the SANCTISSIMUM, in the eyes of the poor, in the grandeur of the mountains, and so forth. Hymn #746 in the Brébeuf […]

Jeff Ostrowski · November 13, 2022

PDF Download • “Gregorian Accompaniments” … Just in time for Advent! (366 pages)

The second half of today’s article answers questions submitted by Mr. Matthew Frederes.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 12, 2022

Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Jeff’s First Response to Patrick” (12 Nov 2022)

Mr. Williams, today I challenge you (please) to provide direct responses for two questions.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 11, 2022

This Coming Sunday’s Introit

You can evaluate my attempt to record this Sunday’s INTROIT according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church. This INTROIT is very well known because it’s repeated over and over at the end of the year, depending on how many Sundays after Pentecost occur in a particular year.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 10, 2022

Blase Cardinal Cupich Responds Directly to Me!

I will not insult your intelligence by telling you what I suspect happened.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 9, 2022

“Vatican Commission on Gregorian Chant” • Biographies for Its Twenty Members

Including two (2) documents translated into English for the first time!

Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2022

“Whoever controls the language controls the Masses.”

“Missa Back-To-The-Future” (a recent OCP offering) isn’t part of the treasury mandated by Vatican II; nor do I belong on the basketball court with Michael Jordan.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 5, 2022

Remembering Mr. Tom Savoy • “Requiescat in pace.”

Tom died suddenly on 24 October 2022 (a month shy of his 67th birthday) at his home in Charlotte.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 5, 2022

4 November 2022 • “Don’t forget!”

Monthly reminder to all: please subscribe to our free mailing list! It couldn’t be easier: (a) Go to any article; (b) Scroll to the bottom; (c) Enter your email address. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment; we have no major donors; we run no advertisements; we have no savings. […]

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    💲 5.00 💵
    Our tiny 501(c)3 nonprofit organization exists solely by generous readers who donate $5.00 per month. We have no endowment; we have no major donors; we run no advertisements; we have no savings. A donor wrote to us: “I so appreciate all you do and have done, and your generosity is unprecedented. I am honored to be able to make a monthly contribution.” Another monthly donor says: “Thank you for everything CC Watershed does. We are able to add so much solemnity to Holy Mass due to the resources made available here.” Can you spare a few dollars each month to help us survive?
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

Quick Thoughts

    “Reminder” — Month of Febr. (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. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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
    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

“Rarely indeed,” asserted Pope Benedict XV (2 October 1921), “has the idealism of art and the glory of the faith been joined in such perfect harmony” as in the works of Palestrina and fellow polyphonists.

— Quoted by Gerard Ellard SJ (Church history professor at St. Mary’s College, KS)

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