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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 · 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.”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 22, 2022

PDF Download • Professionally-Scanned “Graduale Romanum” (Schwann, 1908) • 1,129 pages!

This is the “pure” Vatican Edition—technically the only version of the rhythm allowed by Church documents!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 15, 2022

“Hymn For Mary’s Assumption” (15 August) • By Saint Robert Southwell, Priest & Martyr

Installment 3 • “How Has Nobody Done This Before?” (series)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 14, 2022

“Truly Wonderful Quote” • Dr. Roger Wagner

“Never apologize for your choir, because they’re as good as you are!”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 13, 2022

“To go to Mass together will be the light of Sunday for a family.” — Pope Benedict XVI (2005)

Statement by Pope Benedict XVI • Saint Peter’s Square (October, 2005)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 12, 2022

PDF Download • “Sunday Vespers” (22 pages)

In spite of its imperfections, creating this (draft) booklet required much more effort than I had anticipated.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 11, 2022

11 July 2022 • FEEDBACK

Someone who heard the CCW plainsong recordings with NOH accompaniment says: “For years I have travelled the continents and crossed the oceans of Gregorian chant in search of a composition and interpretation as sublime as this. The text and the melody are interwoven in a game of mirrors with the interpreters, the singer and the […]

Jeff Ostrowski · July 11, 2022

Gregorian Chant • Its “True” Rhythm

I’m dumbstruck (with joy) to see that my recent video presentation on plainsong rhythm has garnered quite a number of “views” on VIMEO. I also made the full presentation available on YouTube, and—as I write these words—it has collected 700+ views. How cool is it that folks are still interested in the rhythm of Cantus […]

Jeff Ostrowski · July 9, 2022

“Do You Know This Hymn Composer?” • Orlando Gibbons (d. 1623)

Installment 2 • “How Has Nobody Done This Before?” (series)

Jeff Ostrowski · July 8, 2022

“I’ll be back next year … but with my entire choir!”

“The symposium exceeded all of my expectations.” — Pediatrician, Choirmaster, and Mother of Six Children

Jeff Ostrowski · July 2, 2022

Across the Pacific • Alto is “Raving”

From Asia: “I held choir rehearsal yesterday and one of the choir members (singing Alto) was just raving about how she loved the layout of the Brébeuf Choral Supplement because she didn’t have to look up and down for both music and verse—and she loved the ease with which she could sing her part because […]

Jeff Ostrowski · June 30, 2022

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant: “Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and […]

Jeff Ostrowski · June 29, 2022

“How Has Nobody Done This Before?” • First Installment

I’ve been encouraged to launch a new series!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 29, 2022

“Exceeded Every Expectation!” • Mr. O’Brien’s Review

“I attended Symposium this year, and was absolutely blown away.”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Which Mass?
    In 1905, when the Vatican Commission on Gregorian Chant began publishing the EDITIO VATICANA—still the Church’s official edition— they assigned different Masses to different types of feasts. However, they were careful to add a note (which began with the words “Qualislibet cantus hujus Ordinarii…”) making clear “chants from one Mass may be used together with those from others.” Sadly, I sometimes worked for TLM priests who weren’t fluent in Latin. As a result, they stubbornly insisted Mass settings were ‘assigned’ to different feasts and seasons (which is false). To understand the great variety, one should examine the 1904 KYRIALE of Dr. Peter Wagner. One should also look through Dom Mocquereau’s Liber Usualis (1904), in which the Masses are all mixed up. For instance, Gloria II in his book ended up being moved to the ‘ad libitum’ appendix in the EDITIO VATICANA.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Like! Like! Like!
    You won’t believe who recently gave us a “like” on the Corpus Christi Watershed FACEBOOK PAGE. Click here (PDF) to see who it was. We were not only sincerely honored, we were utterly flabbergasted. This was truly a resounding endorsement and unmistakable stamp of approval.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Atténde Dómine”
    Although it isn’t nearly as ancient as other hymns in the plainsong repertoire, Atténde Dómine, et miserére, quía peccávimus tíbi (“Look down, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee”) has become one of the most popular hymns for LENT—perhaps because it was included in the famous Liber Usualis of Solesmes. This musical score (PDF file) has an incredibly accurate version in English, as well as a nice version in Spanish, and also the original Latin. Although I don’t claim to have a great singing voice, this morning I recorded this rehearsal video.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    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

“The chapter decides to penalize singers or instrumentalists who are tardy by a few minutes at the same rate as if they had been absent the whole hour.” [From “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]

— Sevilla: Chapter Resolution (2 June 1563 )

Recent Posts

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  • PDF Download • “Pange Lingua” in Simple (Contemporary) Polyphony for Three Voices

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