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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 8, 2023

Which Hymnal Did Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Endorse?

Musicians can have a stronger voice than even the legendary Fulton J. Sheen!

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 6, 2023

What Exactly Is Dr. Peter Wagner Talking About?

“These manuscripts had to be sought out in the public or capitular libraries, whose conservators were often hardly supportive of—if not outright hostile to—the reproduction of their treasures.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 5, 2023

“Solesmes Method” • Where was it developed?

Father Ralph March wrote: “If any single man could deserve the title father of the renewed chant it would be Dom Joseph Pothier.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 4, 2023

PDF Download • The Official Funeral Booklet for Pope Benedict XVI (37 pages)

We strive to emphasize the positive on this blog, but I have to admit…

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 4, 2023

PDF Download • “Corde Natus Ex Parentis” w/ Modern Harmonies (4 pages)

She said: “Jeff, you should record these harmonies with human voices, to illustrate what you mean.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 3, 2023

FEEDBACK … from New Hampshire

Jeff, thanks for the rare Gregorian accompaniments. I just love all the work you do! About 2 years ago, my parish made the decision to ditch all the contemporary Mass settings (Marty Haugen, and so forth) and to only use the Latin! We currently use the [name redacted of a disposable missal] … some of their accompaniments […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 2, 2023

2 January 2023 • FEEDBACK

Dear Mr. Ostrowski; I must politely disagree with your friend who said “absolutely nobody cares” about the rare books you share on the blog. The fact is, your raw enthusiasm for these resources teaches me (and presumably others) to care. I admit that sometimes the angles from which you present them—the amount of context, or […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 1, 2023

PDF Download • “Graduale Romanum” Organ Accompaniments by Dr. Peter Wagner (513 pages)

Dr. Peter Wagner, a famous musicologist, founded the “Gregorian Academy” in Freiburg (Switzerland).

Jeff Ostrowski · December 31, 2022

“Requiescat In Pace” • Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Let us pray for the repose of the soul of Josef Ratzinger, who did so much good for the church.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 26, 2022

“… Ripped From A Live-Feed …”

Saint John Vianney, while in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, could scarcely speak or breathe (so moved was he).

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 24, 2022

PDF • “Silent Night” Harmonization

Here’s a handy organ accompaniment (PDF) in three different key signatures: MIDDLE, HIGH, and LOW. The Latin lyrics (“Silens Nox”) are courtesy of Father Valentine Young, OFM (d. 2020). The organ harmonies are very simple, yet beautiful. Those who desire such a thing may also download a Singer’s Version. For obvious reasons, the choir will […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 24, 2022

PDF Download • “What Child Is This?” • Jeff’s Arrangement of This Carol … in Latin!

This morning I sat down and arranged what—in my view—is one of the beautiful Christmas carols.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 23, 2022

23 December 2022 • FEEDBACK

A very skilled conductor from another country—who recently posted a recording any conductor would be proud of, displaying a light, pleasant, and professional choral sound—wrote to us on 23 December 2022: “CCWatershed and the Sacred Music Symposia have made a great mark in my musical career and the sound you hear you can proudly say […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 20, 2022

Choirmasters • “How To Avoid Getting Fired”

Anyone who’s ever stood in front of a choir knows the choirmaster’s vocation is not an easy one.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 20, 2022

19 Dec. 2022 • “Include The Congregation?”

People often ask: “Can Gregorian Chant include the congregation?” The answer is: Yes! Listen to this Live Recording from last Sunday (which was the 4th Sunday of Advent). That is one model—not the only model—demonstrating how a congregation could be included. It’s KYRIE XVII, traditionally sung during Advent.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • (29th Sund. Ordinary Time)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC which I created for this coming Sunday, the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The INTROIT for this Sunday explains why this Sunday is called “Apple Sunday.” As we approach the end of the liturgical year, most of the INTROITS seem to be in Mode III or Mode IV, which are ‘haunting’ tones.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Holy, Holy, Holy” transposed lower

    A simple setting based on a work by Canon Jules Vyverman.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (27th Sund. Ordinary Time)

    Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday: 4 October 2026

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    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Preface of Saint Joseph (added by the pope)

    You can see the “Præfatio de Sancto Joseph” inserted directly into the priest’s missal.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Predictable Rhymes?” • A Follow Up
    We received considerable correspondence regarding my article, Two Ways to Defile a Hymn. More specifically, what really raised certain people’s hackles was its follow-up article dealing with the keyboard accompaniment for the CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL. But to quote Eliza Doolittle: “Have I said anything I oughtn’t?” Please examine this PDF file and see whether you agree. Were the editors of the BRÉBEUF HYMNAL incorrect to insist upon sophisticated and clever rhymes, rather than mind-numbingly predictable rhymes?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘Ould’ But Not Good
    Dom Samuel Gregory Ould (note the spelling) was a Benedictine monk at FORT AUGUSTUS ABBEY in Scotland. As musician, organist, and composer, Dom Ould was highly regarded. Moreover, he was considered an authority on Gregorian Chant. But not everything found in an old book—or, in this case, an “Ould” book—is necessarily praiseworthy. Consider this page from Dom Ould’s hymnal. Do you see the rhymes? They offend severely by ABR (“Abuse By Reuse”) and are utterly predictable. In my recent article—Two Ways to Defile a Hymn—I addressed this topic.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Why do we never sing “De Spiritu Sancto” (St. Athenogenes) in our churches? There are a dozen translations in English verse. Where could anyone find a better evening hymn than this, coming right down from the catacombs? Our hymnbooks know nothing of such a treasure as this, and give us pages of poor sentiment in doggerel lines by some tenth-rate modern versifier.

— Rev’d Adrian Fortescue (d. 1923)

Recent Posts

  • Music List • (29th Sund. Ordinary Time)
  • Ordinary of the Mass (Spanish Settings) for Organ + Congregation • “We’ve Had Success With These”
  • PDF Download • “Hymns We Have Used” (306 Entries) – Including an 11-Page Chart
  • “All Saints Hymn” • Containing a Polyphonic Section
  • A Peculiar Plainsong Practice of the Anglicans

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