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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 · October 20, 2025

(Part 2) • Did they simplify this hymn?

Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1929…

Jeff Ostrowski · October 20, 2025

“Can Choral Music Survive?” • 3 Reasons It Will

You may think I’m crazy, but I have a belief when it comes to choral music.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 20, 2025

Monsignor Klaus Gamber Speaks!

An interesting quotation from the eminent liturgist, Monsignor Klaus Gamber…

Jeff Ostrowski · October 19, 2025

Feast of the Jesuit Martyrs of North America

Their feast got replaced by a Sunday this year.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 18, 2025

“Music List” • 29th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Readers have expressed interest in examining the “music list” I prepared for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 18, 2025

Fulton J. Sheen + this Sunday’s “Entrance Chant”

Gregorian melodies ‘stick’ in one’s memory in a way that’s both marvelous and surprising.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 14, 2025

Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major

I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 14, 2025

PDF Download • Liturgical Round (“Canon”) for your Children’s Choir

An example that’s truly great art, yet still within their reach.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 13, 2025

Important Quote by a Church Musician

My friend is a highly-placed musician at the Vatican.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 11, 2025

Fulton J. Sheen Played The Pipe Organ!

Sheen would occasionally display his skill on the organ to his friends.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 11, 2025

“Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Readers have expressed interest in examining the “music list” I prepared for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 9, 2025

PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday

Anyone know why the Book of Esther was chosen? That same section of Esther was chosen for last Sunday’s Introit.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 8, 2025

Why A “Fugue” Here?

I think you will agree about this.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 7, 2025

“Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest

Once upon a time, Catholics were supposed to attend Mass within their “parochial boundaries.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 6, 2025

New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”

Those responsible for preparing parish bulletins may wish to…

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • Communion (4th Snd. Lent)
    The COMMUNION ANTIPHON for this coming Sunday, which is the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A), is particularly beautiful. There’s something irresistible about this tone; it’s neither happy nor sad. As always, I encourage readers to visit the flourishing feasts website, where the complete Propria Missae may be downloaded free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Good Friday Flowers
    Good Friday has a series of prayers for various parties: the pope, catechumens, pagans, heretics, schismatics, and so forth. In the old liturgical books, there was no official ‘name’ for these prayers. (This wasn’t unusual as ‘headers’ and ‘titles’ for each section is a rather modern idea.) The Missal simply instructed the priest to go to the Epistle side and begin. In the SHERBORNE MISSAL, each prayer begins with a different—utterly spectacular—flower. This PDF file shows the first few prayers. Has anyone counted the ‘initial’ drop-cap flowers in the SHERBORNE MISSAL? Surely there are more than 1,000.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (3rd Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 3rd Sunday of Lent (8 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has magnificent propers. Its stern INTROIT (“Óculi mei semper ad Dóminum”) is breathtaking, and the COMMUNION (“Qui bíberit aquam”) with its fauxbourdon verses is wonderful. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation
    It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Grotesque Pairing • “Passion Chorale”
    One of our rarest releases was undoubtably this PDF scan of the complete Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) by Father Joseph Roff, a student of Healey Willan. One of the scarcest titles in existence, this book was provided to us by Mr. Peter Meggison. Back in 2018, we scanned each page and uploaded it to our website, making it freely available to everyone. Readers are probably sick of hearing me say this, but just because we upload something that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wonderful or worthy of imitation. We upload many publications precisely because they are ‘grotesque’, interesting, or revealing. Whereas the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal had an editorial board that was careful and sensitive vis-à-vis pairing texts with tunes, the Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) seems to have been rather reckless in this regard. Please take a look at what they did with the PASSION CHORALE and see whether you agree.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who are separated from it, for in the past they have unhappily left it.

— Pope Pius XI (6 January 1928)

Recent Posts

  • Consultor to the Vatican Council Enters the Fray • (Vis-à-vis Jeff’s Pipe Organ Assertion)
  • Palm Sunday • “Repertoire for Children’s Choir”
  • PDF Download • Communion (4th Snd. Lent)
  • Most “Congregational” Hymn • (In My Experience)
  • Music is the “Humble Handmaid” of the Mass

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