Views from the Choir Loft

Julie Huebner • Article Archive

Julie Huebner earned musical degrees at Luther College (Bachelor) and Southern Illinois University (Masters). She currently serves as Director of Music and Liturgy at Saint Mary’s Visitation Parish in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. With her husband and three children, she resides in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Julie Huebner · January 22, 2026

My Ode to Kevin Allen

I was privileged to meet Mr. Allen in 2024. He was kind, humble, and gracefully dealt with a brand new music director asking him questions.

Julie Huebner · January 4, 2026

“Puer Natus in Béthlehem” • (Added Fifths)

A dash of something!

Julie Huebner · September 27, 2025

Unison • “Deceptively Easy, Relentlessly Unforgiving”

“That’s not just music. That’s Catholicism at its most apostolic, most bold, and most timeless.” —Julie Huebner

Julie Huebner · July 18, 2025

PDF Download • “Catholic Texts Transcend”

I first learned a now-favorite Catholic text surrounded by Lutherans.

Julie Huebner · June 9, 2025

PDF Download • “Text by Saint Francis of Assisi” (choral setting w/ organ: Soprano & Alto)

“I am near to end of my first year as a full-time choirmaster.” — Julie Huebner

Julie Huebner · January 19, 2025

PDF Download • “Small Choirs, Unite!” (2nd Part)

This is definitely a piece worth bringing out for choirs of all sizes!

Julie Huebner · January 13, 2025

PDF Download • “Small Choirs Unite!”

We have a wide range of expertise: from experienced choristers (some with music degrees) to a gentleman who’d never sung in a choir in his life before joining.

Julie Huebner · December 10, 2024

35 Children Chanting “Sálve Regína” From Memory

“This particular article talked about the Catholic Church in Milwaukee…” —Julie Huebner

Julie Huebner · January 10, 2013

Biography • Julie Huebner

Before her official work with the Church began, she pursued a career on the operatic and musical theater stage in Milwaukee and Chicago…

Which Mass?

In 1905, when the Vatican Commission on Gregorian Chant began publishing the EDITIO VATICANA—still the Church’s official edition— they assigned different Masses to different types of feasts. However, they were careful to add a note (which began with the words “Qualislibet cantus hujus Ordinarii…”) making clear “chants from one Mass may be used together with those from others.” Sadly, I sometimes worked for TLM priests who weren’t fluent in Latin. As a result, they stubbornly insisted Mass settings were ‘assigned’ to different feasts and seasons (which is false). To understand the great variety, one should examine the 1904 KYRIALE of Dr. Peter Wagner. One should also look through Dom Mocquereau’s Liber Usualis (1904), in which the Masses are all mixed up. For instance, Gloria II in his book was placed in the ‘ad libitum’ appendix in the EDITIO VATICANA.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Like! Like! Like!

You won’t believe who recently gave us a “like” on the Corpus Christi Watershed FACEBOOK PAGE. Click here (PDF) to see who it was. We were not only sincerely honored, we were utterly flabbergasted. This was truly a resounding endorsement and unmistakable stamp of approval.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Atténde Dómine”

Although it isn’t nearly as ancient as other hymns in the plainsong repertoire, Atténde Dómine, et miserére, quía peccávimus tíbi (“Look down, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee”) has become one of the most popular hymns for LENT—perhaps because it was included in the famous Liber Usualis of Solesmes. This musical score (PDF file) has an incredibly accurate version in English, as well as a nice version in Spanish, and also the original Latin. Although I don’t claim to have a great singing voice, this morning I recorded this rehearsal video.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of Febr. (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

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski