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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 22, 2020

“Homily for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM

“I never really understand this psalm until I entered the Franciscan Novitiate in 1942…”

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2020

Myth Re: Johann Sebastian Bach

Some musicologists try to make a “splash” by saying that Bach was totally forgotten when he died—remembered only as an organ virtuoso—and that his sons were more famous than he was. Such an idea is indefensible. It is true that musical styles changed in 1750AD—but this is normal. Musical styles change constantly; e.g. much of […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 18, 2020

Arthur Friedheim, Franz Liszt’s Secretary

Arthur Friedheim (d. 1932) has a very poor reputation as a pianist, and Liszt rejected him several times before finally accepting him as a pupil, yet the Liszt recordings he left are quite good—especially considering the transgressions by other Liszt pupils. Friedheim must have been an amazing musician; twice he was asked to become conductor […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 15, 2020

More on the Mystery Book

Examples: Non Abluunt Lymphae Deum, Rebus Creatis Nil Egens, Salve Caput Cruentatum, Sancti Venite, Victis Sibi Cognomina, Hoste Dum Victo Triumphans, and Jam Desinant Suspiria.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 15, 2020

Homily — “Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Mother” • Father Valentine Young, OFM

During World War II, Catholic churches were filled on Friday evenings for the Sorrowful Mother Novena and Benediction.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 14, 2020

13th Anniversary of “Summorum Pontificum”

“The cemeteries are filled……”

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 10, 2020

“A blast from the past”

Consilium document (“Instantibus Pluribus”) to presidents of the national liturgical commissions, on norms for translation of the Graduale Simplex, dated 23 January 1968: “The types of chant in the Graduale Simplex may be adapted to the style of music and song typical of individual peoples. But any sort of secular or profane melody is excluded.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 10, 2020

PDF Download • 1928 “Invitatory” (86 pages)

The “invitatory” occurs at the beginning of Matins and therefore introduces the daily divine Office.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 8, 2020

“Homily — 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” • Father Valentine Young, OFM

“Often, the person who did us harm won’t even know that we’re still stewing over what they did to us; and if they knew, they might even be glad.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 7, 2020

Jeff Ostrowski • “Three Rules For Good Music”

But we have not spoken very much about Baroque music…

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 6, 2020

Important Message To Fathers

“Kids don’t remember this…”

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 4, 2020

(Installment #6) “Catholic Hymnals” • Jeff Ostrowski

How to avoid that sickening feeling when you realize nobody—and I mean nobody—in the congregation knows the hymn you picked!

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 4, 2020

“Homily for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM

“If worry did any good, I would advise you to do it—but it is wasted time and energy.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 4, 2020

Sir Richard Terry: Hymns, Congregational Singing, and Avoiding “Violence” to the Elders

Terry was forced to resign from the Cathedral in 1924, partially due to his “inconsistent approach to congregational singing at the Cathedral.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 4, 2020

3 September 2020 • Tausig, Liszt’s student

When Polish virtuoso Carl Tausig died in 1871 at the age of thirty, Franz Liszt said to Anton Rubinstein: “Now there are only two of us left in the world.” Liszt had sent Tausig to Richard Wagner, who wrote as follows: You have given me great pleasure with little Tausig. […] He is a terrible […]

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • “Ascension of the Lord”

    Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “For Pentecost Sunday”

    There’s a triple ‘allelúja’ and I just love the chord at the end of the 2nd iteration.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”

    The following declaration will probably smack of “blowing my own horn.”

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    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Thee” + “Thou” + “Thine”
    Few musicians realize that various English translations of Sacred Scripture were granted formal approval by the USCCB and the Vatican for liturgical use in the United States of America. But don’t take my word for it! Here are four documents proving this, which you can examine with your own eyes. Some believe the words “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee” were forbidden after Vatican II—but that’s incorrect. For example, they’re found in the English translation of the ‘Our Father’ at Mass. Moreover, the Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) mentioned in those four documents employs “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee.” It was published with a FOREWORD by Westminster’s Roman Catholic Archbishop (John Cardinal Heenan).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of May (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). 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
    Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)
    I published an article on 11 November 2023 called Wedding March For The Lazy Organist, which rather offhandedly made reference to a simplified version I created in 2007 for Pachelbel’s Canon. I often use it as a PROCESSIONAL for weddings and quinceañeras. Many organists say they “hate” Pachelbel’s Canon. But I love it. I think it’s bright and beautiful. I created that ‘simplified version’ for musicians coming to grips with playing the pipe organ. It can be downloaded as a free PDF if you visit Andrea Leal’s article dated 15 August 2022: Manuals Only: Organ Interludes Based on Plainsong. Specifically, it is page 84 in that collection—generously offered as a free PDF download. Johann Pachelbel (d. 1706) was a renowned German organist, violinist, teacher, and composer of over 500 works. A friend of Bach’s family, he taught Johann Christoph Bach (Sebastian Bach’s eldest brother) and lived in his house. Those who read Pachelbel’s biography will notice his connection to two German cities adopted as famous hymn tune names: EISENACH and ERFURT.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The Second Plenary Council of Baltimore (Tit. VI, Cap. iii, 379) did order that Vespers be sung, and in their entirety, in all churches on Sundays and feast days and that Vespers be not omitted on account of other services. However, the Fathers of the Council inserted the clause, “quatenus fieri potest,” in consideration of practical difficulties in the carrying out of the decree.

— The American Ecclesiastical Review (Febr. 1949)

Recent Posts

  • Vanishingly Rare! • 1955 “Organ Accompaniment” (Mainz Diocese) — 328 Page PDF
  • “Comparison Chart” • 1940 Episcopal Hymnal
  • 21 Organ Accompaniments • Pentecost Sequence (“Veni Sancte Spíritus”) in Latin and English
  • “A Noble Sound” • Calling Men Back to Sacred Music
  • The Entrance Chant • “Further Discussion”

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