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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 30, 2022

PDF Download • “Contemporary Sanctus” (SATB)

This SATB setting by Father Lhoumeau—although contemporary—certainly adheres to the “rule” of Pope Saint John Paul II.

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 28, 2022

PDF Comparison Chart • “Which Has More Scripture?” — Ordinary or Extraordinary Form?

The answer surprised me!

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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.”

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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!

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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)

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 14, 2022

“Truly Wonderful Quote” • Dr. Roger Wagner

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

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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)

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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.

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 9, 2022

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

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

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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

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 29, 2022

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

I’ve been encouraged to launch a new series!

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Proportionalist Plainchant • (Documented)
    On this website, we believe: “If we don’t know where we came from, we can’t know where we’re going.” As a result, we often spend hours scanning old books of GREGORIAN CHANT (and organ accompaniments). We don’t claim those items are useful or desirable for today’s circumstances; the goal is understanding where we came from. Here is a fascinating musical score from the 19th century. At that time, it was believed that MENSURALISM (a.k.a. “proportionalism”) was the historically correct way to sing plainsong.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Garnier Alleluias • “Have They Moved?”

    We received an email asking whether the “Garnier Gospel Acclamations website” has…

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Absolutely ‘Perfect’ Voice-Leading?

    This brief passage seems (in my humble opinion) to be a delightful specimen.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    “Reader Feedback” • 22 June 2026
    A reader wrote to us from Virginia: “I really appreciate the 23 harmonizations that you posted on CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED for the Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary hymn. I hope to find willing voices in our small Schola Cantorum to try the three-voice version. Carry on, sir! You’re doing the Lord’s work.” While we don’t know this gentleman personally, we note that he earned a Ph.D. (which demonstrates that our blog has something for everybody). 😊
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Latin has been the language of the Latin liturgy for 1,600 years. It is a sign and source of unity as well as a defense of doctrine, not because of the language so much, but because it is a language no longer subject to changes. There are so many beautiful texts which can never have the same effectiveness in translation. Lastly, Latin is bound to an extremely precious heritage of melody, Gregorian chant and polyphony.”

— Cardinal Antonelli (Secretary of the Conciliar Commission on the Liturgy)

Recent Posts

  • “Plainsong Propers” • Fascinating 1980s Recordings
  • Proportionalist Plainchant • (Documented)
  • “First Things First” • The Order We’ve Reversed: Seven (7) Points for Consideration
  • Garnier Alleluias • “Have They Moved?”
  • PDF Download • 1950s Hand Missal including “Priest Photographs” at Mass (944 pages)

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