• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • About
  • Symposium
  • Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
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), and did graduate work in Musicology. He serves as choirmaster for the new FSSP parish in Los Angeles, where he resides with his wife and children.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Jeff Ostrowski · May 23, 2013

The Church Is Alive And Strong!

“The Church asks those who will lead and shepherd her communities of Faith to give up the possibility of marital love as a prophetic witness that there is something even more important to our happiness than even beautiful intimacy possible in Christian marriage.” — Archbishop Naumann, 18 May 2013

Jeff Ostrowski · May 23, 2013

Controversial Statements About The Mass Propers

The notion that the texts are there “to remind us that we should be singing something else” could not be further from the truth.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 22, 2013

American Airlines & Anti-Catholic Lies

I took out my iPhone to record his exact words (“we don’t have any more airplanes”) and he called security on me. Classy.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 20, 2013

Poterack Vs. Tucker — Uh, Sort Of . . .

The Sacred Congregation of Rites and the Consilium issued a joint statement on December 29,1966 prohibiting profane music in church. When Consilium spokesman Monsignor Annibale Bugnini was asked at a press conference what was meant by “profane” music, he said that this referred to such things as “jazz” Masses and instruments such as the guitar.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 14, 2013

Why The Vatican II Hymnal Is The Best Hymn Book Ever Of All Time!

This hymn almost brought me to tears. I was shaking as I played it. It’s really beautiful and even haunting. But I was worried about the ending until I realized it was like the “smile” on the Mona Lisa.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 13, 2013

Fr. Rumble Of “Radio Replies” Comments On Folksinging At Mass

“We have had pressreports of eccentric behaviour at Mass and of the introduction of singing more appropriate to music-halls than to the atmosphere of reverence that should prevail in a church. These reports have come mainly from America, and they refer only to isolated instances.” — Fr. Leslie Rumble of Radio Replies, writing in the early 1970s.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 10, 2013

Why No Offertory Antiphon In Roman Missal?

At last! We finally have the answer! . . . Er, sort of . . .

Jeff Ostrowski · May 7, 2013

Irrefutable Proof That Some People Are Jerks

Verbal abuse of a mentally handicapped man was something hard to watch. But why do I mention such a thing on a Blog devoted to Sacred music?

Jeff Ostrowski · May 2, 2013

CMAA President Has His Own “STAR” In Hollywood

Did you know a former president of the Church Music Association of America has his own STAR on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? That’s correct! Just like Michael Jackson, Rex Harrison, Alfred Hitchcock, Harrison Ford, and all the rest.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 29, 2013

Solesmes Salicus & Scandicus Vs. Pure Vatican Edition

Does noticing this officially make me a “Chant Geek” ? Or is it the mere fact that I actually care about such things . . .

Jeff Ostrowski · April 25, 2013

Catholics in the United States Can Kneel Now!

A change has been made in the United States with regard to kneeling for Holy Communion: “the exhortation to catechesis is removed and the exception to the norm of standing is left to the discretion of the faithful.”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 24, 2013

Rev. Fr. Christopher Smith on the Campion Missal

“And so, I launched out into the deep and asked for donations. Within 72 hours we had not only covered the cost, but also had more donations than we could possibly use for that project.” — Fr. Smith

Jeff Ostrowski · April 23, 2013

Introducing the Lalemant Propers (391 Pages) — Free Download !

The Lalemant Propers are extremely simple settings (in English) of the Mass Propers which make it possible for any person to sing these sacred prayers . . . even people who have no musical training whatsoever.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 22, 2013

“Episcopalian” Music vs. “Catholic” Music? Wrong question!

Can you hear “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” in this video from an Episcopalian Church taken on Easter Sunday, 2013?

Jeff Ostrowski · April 22, 2013

A Tale Of Two Monsignori: Schmitt & Vyverman

Did Msgr. Schmitt malign Msgr. Vyverman of Malines? And did Fr. Schmitt truly forget Gogniat’s name?

Jeff Ostrowski · April 15, 2013

Fr. George Rutler Weighs In On The Campion Missal

“Attractively, even elegantly, produced, the appearance of this Missal and Hymnal is appropriate to the high quality of the contents . . .” — Rev. George William Rutler

Jeff Ostrowski · April 13, 2013

Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani (1890-1979)

“The rite of Holy Mass should not be treated as if it were a piece of cloth to be refashioned according to the whim of each generation.”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 11, 2013

PDF Download • Instruction on Sacred Music (“De Musica Sacra”) • Issued by Pope Pius XII in 1958

Don’t you hate it when you think you know the answer to something . . . and then you find out you were dead wrong? This happened to me regarding the congregation reciting Mass Propers in the Extraordinary Form.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 8, 2013

The Latin Mass Has Come Such A Long Way!

“The greatest problem of the new missal, at least in English-speaking countries, lay in the miserable translation that was imposed upon priests and people. Many prayers were so mistranslated that a student of first-year Latin would have done better.” — Msgr. Richard Schuler, 1984

Jeff Ostrowski · April 5, 2013

“Chronicles of Narnia” by Msgr. Richard Schuler

“The hootenanny Mass can give explicit eucharistic and christological specification to youth’s intense involvement in the movements for racial justice, for control of nuclear weapons, for the recognition of personal dignity.” — “Worship Magazine” (January 1966)

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 88
  • Go to page 89
  • Go to page 90
  • Go to page 91
  • Go to page 92
  • Go to page 93
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
7 June 2022 • FEEDBACK

From Chelan, Washington: “CCWatershed is a God-sent resource that I can’t function without! Such great work by the team to bring beauty back to our liturgy!” From Gainesville, Florida: “I am so appreciative of the work, of my brothers and sisters in music!” From Troutman, North Carolina: “Keep up the excellent work in service of the Liturgy!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

For the most part, a “good pope” is defined as someone who does what the critic would do if he were pope.

— William F. Buckley Jr. (6 September 1978)

Recent Posts

  • Photograph • Dom André Mocquereau (d. 1930)
  • “I Found Myself Weeping, Almost In Disbelief…”
  • Our Daily Prayer • Sacred Music Symposium 2022
  • PDF Download • “Polyphony For Choirs” (262 Pages)
  • What. Did. My. Eyes. Just. See.

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

Copyright © 2022 Corpus Christi Watershed · Gabriel Lalemant on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.