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Corpus Christi Watershed

We’re a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2006. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and run no advertisements. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors.

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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 · March 29, 2021

PDF Download • “Hymn to Christ the King” (SATB)

Also included: Five (5) rare rhyming renderings into English.

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2021

29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families […]

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2021

29 March 2021 • Condemned?

On Palm Sunday, the Passion was read. Immediately after mention is made of the betrayal by Judas, the Holy Eucharist is introduced. Is this not a condemnation of “Christians” who deny the Church teaching on the SANCTISSIMUM? Here is Matthew 26: And Judas that betrayed him, answering, said: “Is it I, Rabbi?” He saith to […]

Jeff Ostrowski · March 25, 2021

Never Released Before! • Unique Version of “O Sacred Head Surrounded” (SATB)

What is a Catholic Hymnal? How old are these hymns?

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 24, 2021

Liturgical Translation: Your Thoughts?

The National Association of Pastoral Musicians has created “liturgical” materials honoring Buddha and Darwin.

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 22, 2021

Church Music’s Best Kept Secret!

Here’s a 20-second audio clip (live) from yesterday. It’s the INTROIT from Passion Sunday, when the Gospel says Jesus “hid himself” because the crowds wanted to kill Him…after He said He was greater than Abraham. Our parish uses The Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal for all sung Masses, and we cherish the choral supplement because […]

Jeff Ostrowski · March 20, 2021

“Glad Trad” vs. “Rad Trad”

We are called to do something very strange…

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 19, 2021

Saint Joseph + Baby Jesus In A Walker

This luscious manuscript was created about A.D. 1453 for a French Noblewoman.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 18, 2021

18 March 2021 • “Close To Death”

When it seemed Father Jean de Brébeuf and his companions were about to meet death on 28 October 1637, he wrote a letter to his superiors. Here’s an excerpt: “It is a singular favor that His Goodness gives us, to allow us to endure something for love of Him. Now it is that we consider […]

Jeff Ostrowski · March 17, 2021

PDF Download • My Favorite Gregorian Hymn

There are so many wonderful Gregorian hymns, but the “HYMN TO SAINT JOSEPH” is my favorite.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 16, 2021

Three Radical Liturgical Changes • (Pope Pius XII)

I love Venerable Pius XII very much, but this particular change was unconscionable.

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 15, 2021

Singers • High or Low?

I consider myself a “flexible” choirmaster. When I sing with men who have low voices, I join with them at a low pitch. Here’s an excerpt from yesterday, which was LAETARE SUNDAY (the 4th Sunday of Lent). Later that same day, I sang at another Mass with a singer who has a very high voice. […]

Jeff Ostrowski · March 15, 2021

15 March 2021 • Lætare Compliment!

I agree with Keven Smith that Covid-19 has been a huge boon to my skills of improvisation on the organ. I wanted to share this amazing email (which gave me such joy), sent to me by somebody I don’t know: “My name is —— and I attended the 7:00pm Mass today at St Vitus. The […]

Jeff Ostrowski · March 14, 2021

PDF Download • “O Sacred Head Surrounded” — Twelve Organ Accompaniments

You can’t have too many harmonizations of this piece!

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 12, 2021

11 March 2021 • From Last Sunday…

Like everyone else, we are struggling under the Covid-19 restrictions. The number of singers we’re allowed have has been reduced in a severe way. But we charge forward, trusting in God. Here is a 50-second live excerpt from Mass last Sunday here in Los Angeles. Not many voices, but still beautiful (in my humble opinion).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Booklet of Eucharistic Hymns” (16 pages)
    I was asked to create a booklet for my parish to use during our CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION on 22 June 2025. Would you be willing to look over the DRAFT BOOKLET (16 pages) I came up with? I tried to include a variety of hymns: some have a refrain; some are in major, others in minor; some are metered, others are plainsong; some are in Spanish, some are in Latin, but most are in English. Normally, we’d use the Brébeuf Hymnal—but we can’t risk having our congregation carry those heavy books all over the city to various churches.
    —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

What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too, and it cannot be all of a sudden entirely forbidden or even considered harmful.

— ‘His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)’

Recent Posts

  • Luis Martínez Must Go!
  • Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
  • PDF Download • “Gospel Acclamation” for 29 June (Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles)
  • “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
  • Available! • Free Rehearsal Videos for Agnus Dei “Mille Regretz” after Gombert (d. 1560)

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

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