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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 17, 2022

“Tonus Solemnior” • How old is it?

In the 1962 Missal, a section called “præfationes in tono solemniore” contains ornate melodies for the Preface. An article posted on the blog of the Church Music Association of America claims the tone comes from “the late 19th century” and said its elimination “is one of the very few good things which the post-Conciliar reform […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 17, 2022

“Hymns for Small Choirs” • The Season of Epiphany

Destroying the season of Epiphany was in direct disobedience to Vatican II.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 15, 2022

OCP: “Missa Back-To-The-Future” (Not Kidding)

The musical style is totally secular; similar to what one might hear on the radio.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 14, 2022

Free Videos • “How to say the Extraordinary Form”

This was posted in 2013, but you’ll want to bookmark it.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 12, 2022

PDF Download • “Glory To God” (Three Voices)

Those who direct small choirs are always looking for great repertoire.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 11, 2022

“Soloists Vs. Full Choir” • Which Do You Prefer?

A smaller group sings for the 9:00am Mass; a large chorus sings for the 11:00am Mass.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 11, 2022

Small Choir Repertoire: “Of The Father’s Love Begotten” (Two Voices)

My brother immediately said: “I would never use this; it’s terrible, Jeff.” — And he was correct!

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 8, 2022

Re: Glaring Lectionary Omission • “Setting The Record Straight”

They were: (1) Cardinal Palazzini; (2) Cardinal Stickler; (3) Cardinal Mayer; (4) Cardinal Oddi; (5) Cardinal Casaroli; (6) Cardinal Gantin; (7) Cardinal Innocenti; (8) Cardinal Ratzinger; (9) Cardinal Tomko.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 7, 2022

6 January 2022 • Quick!

A short version of the INTROIT for the feast of the Epiphany has been added to the Saint René Goupil Gregorian Chant Website.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 6, 2022

PDF Download • “Feast of the Holy Name” (Vespers Organ Accompaniment)

Only fellow choirmasters know how much work choirmasters do “behind the scenes.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 4, 2022

PDF Booklet • “Blessing Epiphany Water” (18 Pages)

For the Blessing of Holy Water on Epiphany Eve.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 3, 2022

Confusing Feasts of Christmas

Whether one considers the Missale Vetustum or the post-conciliar calendar—or even the 1908 calendar—the feasts which follow Christmas are very confusing. Last year I created this comparison chart. I hope you find it helpful. As far as I can tell, my chart is the first effort to carefully detail the changes made to post-Christmas feasts […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 1, 2022

1 January 2022 • Alternate Melodies

In a 14th century manuscript, I found some alternate melodies for the “Dóminus vobíscum” and “Et cum spíritu tuo.” I’m not sure we could ever use these at Mass; most priests have a hard enough time with the Editio Vaticana melodies!

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 31, 2021

Latin Mass • Conspicuous Snag in “Clarification”

Archbishop Roche says the ‘true’ parishioners are supposed to make it clear the EF people are lowest on the totem pole.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 21, 2021

“Benedictus” (Missa Iste Sanctus) • All voices recorded by Corrinne May

Vatican II said: “The treasury of sacred music is to be preserved and fostered with great care” (SC §114).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn
    The Church’s oldest Latin Eucharistic hymn is featured in the Brébeuf Hymnal. Indeed, the legendary Father Adrian Fortescue made a translation of it—matching the original’s meter—which was elevated by the Brébeuf team. For years, we’ve been working on a Spanish hymnal: “Cantoral del Padre Antonio Daniel.” The progress has been slow but steady, and we encourage anyone fluent in Spanish to consider joining the proofreading team. A few days ago, my wife helped me record a rehearsal video for this Spanish version of the Church’s oldest Latin Eucharistic hymn.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Rare Plainsong Accompaniments
    Our contributor, Veronica Brandt, went deep into Australia to take photographs of organ accompaniments for Gregorian Chant. Some consider these peculiar PLAINSONG ACCOMPANIMENTS—with 3-part harmonies by Barcelona Cathedral organist, Father Josep Muset i Ferrer—to be the rarest in the world. Click here to learn more. Thanks Veronica! 😊
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Hidden Chant” • For the Ordinary Form

    Not even the magnificent “GregoBase”—which is incredibly comprehensive—realizes music for this antiphon was published by the Vatican in the 1930s.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    Time and Again We Are Asked…
    John Baptist Singenberger (d. 1924) was a central figure of Catholic Church music. In this utterly fascinating excerpt (Single-Page PDF), Singenberger writes: Time and again we are asked: “Is the Gregorian chant to be accompanied by the organ?” As a young student in Saint Gall, Singenberger befriended SEBASTIAN GEBHARD MESSMER, the future Archbishop of Milwaukee (Wisconsin). The two graduated together in 1861. The school they attended (Saint George’s Seminary) was a “seminary”—but in the older European sense. In other words, it provided a classical education without necessarily leading to ordination. Singenberger remained a layman his whole life, but Messmer was eventually made archbishop—by Pope Saint Pius X—of the very archdiocese in Wisconsin where Singenberger would spend his American career, giving him a powerful ecclesiastical ally.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of June (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). Since we were founded in 2006, not one of our board members has ever accepted any remuneration whatsoever—not a penny. 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

Random Quote

“I prefer to preach,” said one priest “even without immediate preparation, for I can always draw—from the various studies stored away during the seminary years—enough material to interest our good Catholic people. But when I have to go to the altar and sing High Mass or a Requiem, and I know that I cannot read a note of the Preface and the ‘Pater Noster’, I feel like going to martyrdom. Yet the notes are right there before my eyes, but they seem to mock my ignorance.”

— From a 1920 article by Very Rev. Leo P. Manzetti

Recent Posts

  • Two Ways to Defile a Hymn • (And How Not To)
  • “Reader Feedback” • 22 June 2026
  • These Photographs Are Utterly Astounding !
  • Public Criticism of Jeff Ostrowski’s Singing Voice • Also: “Dich König loben wir”
  • Oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn

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