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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 · September 1, 2020

“Homily — 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” • Father Valentine Young, OFM

“Examining the life of Jesus, we discover that He acted differently in different circumstances.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 28, 2020

“Resplendent Beyond Reckoning” • Sherborne Missal (1399AD)

As the Isaac Jogues Missal would do 650 years later, this Missal provides pictures of the priest during the Canon!

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 28, 2020

Video Excerpt • “Fastest Organ Pedals I’ve Ever Seen!”

I’m jealous of anyone who can play the organ pedals so fast!

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 26, 2020

Josef Hofmann • “Pianist Par Excellence”

Anton Rubinstein, who hated child prodigies, called Josef Hofmann “the greatest musical genius the world has ever known.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 26, 2020

25 August 2020 • A 20-minute Mass?

Some erroneously attack the Extraordinary Form by claiming that before Vatican II “priests rushed through Low Mass in less than 20 minutes.” Well, during the pandemic, we have had Mass without the reception of Communion by the Faithful—and it makes duration of Mass surprisingly shorter. On feasts with no GLORIA, no CREED, and no HOMILY, […]

Jeff Ostrowski · August 25, 2020

“Homily — 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” • Father Valentine Young, OFM

“Catholic teaching says we should pray for people who die. If we were sure they were in heaven, that wouldn’t be necessary—so let’s be consistent in our teaching.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 23, 2020

Huge Discovery! (Not a Joke) • Re: “Gradual Antiphons vs. Missal Antiphons”

Last night I discovered something I never knew—so I immediately telephoned a priest to verify this.

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 21, 2020

“Secret Book of Happiness” • Official English Translations of the Roman Gradual

Overkill: “ too much of something; the amount by which destruction exceeds what is necessary.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 19, 2020

Clarity! • Missal vs. Gradual Text (Ordinary Form)

If this problem is to be solved, we must first understand it.

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 19, 2020

JP2 said in June of 1980…

Pope Saint John Paul II said in June of 1980: “To the extent that the new sacred music is to serve the liturgical celebrations of the various churches, it can and must draw from earlier forms—especially from Gregorian chant—a higher inspiration, a uniquely sacred quality, a genuine sense of what is religious.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 19, 2020

18 August 2020 • Fr. Fortescue wins!

The index for the Brébeuf hymnal has beautiful capital letters, and I had previously believed our creation to be unique. However, it seems Fr. Adrian Fortescue beat us. (Deep sigh.) You can see that the index for his book, Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described, is quite beautiful, and uses the capital letters I spoke […]

Jeff Ostrowski · August 18, 2020

“Homily for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM

“I considered myself privileged to be Pastor at one of the places in Houck, Arizona, where Saint Katherine Drexel built a church and grade school.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 16, 2020

3 September 1958 • “De musica sacra”

From the 1958 Instruction published under Pope Pius XII: “If the faithful are to communicate, the singing of the Communion antiphon is to begin when the priest distributes Holy Communion. If this Communion antiphon has been taken from some psalm, the other verses of the same psalm may be sung, in which case the antiphon […]

Jeff Ostrowski · August 16, 2020

3 September 1958 • Issued by Pius XII

The Sacred Congregation for Rites issued De musica sacra et sacra liturgia (“Instruction on Sacred Music and Sacred Liturgy”) on 3 September 1958. An excerpt: Finally, perfect active participation is achieved when there is also sacramental participation, by which “the faithful who are present communicate not only with spiritual affection, but also in reception of […]

Jeff Ostrowski · August 14, 2020

“Homily — 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” • Father Valentine Young, OFM

“I had a brother who was married outside the Church and had stopped going to Church for about thirty years…”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)
    The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)
    Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”
    Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music
    On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”
    According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Since the English is not meant to be sung, but only to tell people who do not understand Latin what the text means, a simple paraphrase in prose is sufficient. The versions are not always very literal. Literal translations from Latin hymns would often look odd in English. I have tried to give in a readable, generally rhythmic form the real meaning of the text.”

— Fr. Adrian Fortescue (1913)

Recent Posts

  • PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)
  • PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”
  • Crucial Tips • “Teaching Children How to Sing”
  • Soloists in Gregorian Chant?
  • PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

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