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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 · January 7, 2021

Catholic Choirmasters • Never Fall For This!

Statements so appalling, egregious, and atrocious they must be corrected…

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 7, 2021

6 January 2021 • Anglicans on Plainsong

A book published by Anglicans in 1965 has this to say about Abbat Pothier’s Editio Vaticana, the musical edition reproduced by books such as the LIBER USUALIS (Solesmes Abbey): “No performing edition of the music of the Eucharistic Psalmody can afford to ignore the evidence of the current official edition of the Latin Graduale, which […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 5, 2021

PDF Download • “Essential Liturgical Chart”

I’ve never spent as much time creating a Liturgical Chart as I did for this one.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 5, 2021

PDF Download • “Blessing of Epiphany Water”

An 18-page PDF for the Solemn Blessing of Water on the Eve of the Epiphany.

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 3, 2021

PDF Download • “Puer Natus In Bethlehem” — Simple Christmas Hymn (2 Pages)

This is one of my favorite Gregorian hymns; very catchy!

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 2, 2021

2 January 2021 • Temptation

When I see idiotic statements made on the internet, I go nuts. When I see heretics promoted by people who should know better, I get angry. Learning to ignore such items is difficult—very difficult. I try to remember the words of Fr. Valentine Young: “Do what God places in front of you each day.” When […]

Jeff Ostrowski · January 2, 2021

PDF Download • “No woman shall kiss her child on the Sabbath or fasting day.”

The “Blue Laws” were a series of fanatical laws enacted by the Puritans of the colony of Connecticut…

Jeff Ostrowski · January 1, 2021

“Homily — Feast of Mary, the Mother of God, Years ABC” • Father Valentine Young, OFM

We seem to be sitting around waiting for “that day” when everything in the world, in our country, and in the Church is going to be perfect…

Jeff Ostrowski · January 1, 2021

31 December 2020 • “COMITES CHRISTI”

The feasts for Saint Stephen Proto-Martyr (26 December), Saint John the Evangelist The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved (27 December), and the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28 December) seem untouched by any liturgical reforms. These are very powerful feasts—I believe they once possessed octaves—and I believe they could sometimes “overpower” a Sunday feast. The rules […]

Jeff Ostrowski · December 27, 2020

“Homily — Feast of the Holy Family, Year B” • Father Valentine Young, OFM

I can speak mainly from my experience with Indians, more specifically the Navajos; their native culture has a great respect and love for marriage and family life.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 23, 2020

PDF Download • “Midnight Mass Musical Plan” (2020)

To show our singers how special our music is, I’ve included ancient MSS for each piece—as well as rehearsal videos.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 23, 2020

23 December 2020 • A 5th? or 4th?

I have noticed that where the Editio Vaticana has a descending perfect fourth for the Gradual of Christmas Midnight Mass, many ancient manuscripts have a descending perfect fifth, which is pretty cool: Example A — Example B. The Vatican Edition is a CENTO, and never made any claim to be anything other than a CENTO. […]

Jeff Ostrowski · December 23, 2020

PDF Download • “Creator Alme Siderum” with Organ Accompaniment

The Brébeuf Hymnal provides ancient (Roman Catholic) English translations of this hymn, but Eleanor Parker found versions in Anglo-Saxon!

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 22, 2020

“Improving As Musicians” • Eight Suggestions

Did you know I communicate with dead Catholic composers? I’m not joking.

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Jeff Ostrowski · December 16, 2020

The First Time We’ve Ever Done This Correctly!

Abbot Pothier included a section called “De Ritibus Servandis In Cantu Missae.”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Buckfast Abbey Weighs In
    Dom John Stéphan was a Benedictine monk of Buckfast Abbey in South Devon, England. On 4 February 1933, he published this interesting letter in THE TABLET. Have you seen the exterior of Buckfast Abbey? It’s beyond gorgeous. I doubt there’s a more arresting Abbey in the entire world. Dom Stéphan’s letter is concerning this momentous collection, which our organization obtained, scanned, and uploaded.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Responsorial Psalm Fauxbourdon?
    When it comes to singing Responsorial Psalms in Fauxbourdon, what does this sound like in practice? Can such a thing be done successfully with volunteer choirs in real Catholic parishes? Listen to this audio excerpt from Good Friday and see what you think. Our parish volunteer choir did so well this year—and the ceremonies were ‘standing room only’. For the record, that musical score can be downloaded (completely free of charge) from the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Easter Sunday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Easter Sunday—a.k.a. “Ad Missam in die Paschae”—which is 5 April 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The Fauxbourdon for Communion is particularly moving.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)
    On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Night Office—Nocturns or Matins—except for Holy Week, Easter Octave, and Christmas, has never appeared in the Vatican edition. The larger part of the mediaeval repertory for the Office thus remains still unpublished in the Vatican edition, and is likely to remain so, for the obvious reason that almost no cathedral chapters or monastic choirs sing the Night Office regularly today.”

— John Merle Boe (1968)

Recent Posts

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  • PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)

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