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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

Keven Smith • Article Archive

Keven Smith is the music director at St. Stephen the First Martyr Catholic Church, an apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) in Sacramento, California. He trains and directs a mixed choir that sings full Gregorian propers, ordinaries, and sacred polyphony at more than 100 traditional Latin Masses per year. Keven lives in Sacramento with his wife and five musical children.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Keven Smith · March 24, 2023

Hidden Gem: Ave Regina Caelorum (Steven Talley)

This sweet, simple SATB motet provides a contrast to heavier, darker Lenten repertoire. But it’s going out of season soon.

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Keven Smith · February 21, 2023

Lenten Reflection: Can We Enjoy What Lies Ahead?

Let St. Augustine’s wisdom guide you through the most important season for Church musicians.

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Keven Smith · January 19, 2023

Hidden Gem: Adoro Te Devote (Carlotta Ferrari)

Find out why this motet is simple enough for beginning choirs yet demanding enough to challenge seasoned singers.

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Keven Smith · December 22, 2022

Five Tips for Saving Your Body During Christmas Liturgies

These easy techniques will help you eliminate tension so you can be at your best.

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Keven Smith · October 20, 2022

Hidden Gem: Dormi Jesu (Luc Jakobs)

This striking Christmas motet puts Latin text atop jazzy harmonies to lull Our Infant Lord to sleep.

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Keven Smith · September 9, 2022

The Decaffeinated Choir Director: Yes, It’s Possible

Reflections on one year with no caffeine. Find out what to expect if you try it.

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Keven Smith · August 2, 2022

Need Easy Organ Pieces? Try This Little-Known Composer

Add these fuguettes and trios to your repertoire with minimal practice time.

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Keven Smith · May 27, 2022

On Mistakes (Part II of II)

How we all respond to mistakes can have a huge effect on the cohesiveness and sound of our choirs.

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Keven Smith · May 21, 2022

On Mistakes (Part I of II)

We choir directors can’t eliminate mistakes entirely. But here’s what we can do to minimize them.

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Keven Smith · August 24, 2021

Hidden Gem: Salve Regina (Barkoskie)

Salve Regina is still in season for another three months. You have plenty of time to learn this simple yet satisfying piece.

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Keven Smith · July 19, 2021

7 Keys to Success with Graduale Renovatum

Here’s how to get the most out of this fantastic new resource for interpreting chant rhythm.

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Keven Smith · June 28, 2021

Organ Improvisation: To Record, or Not to Record?

If you missed it, you can hear my iPhone recording on YouTube. But will it be quite the same?

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Keven Smith · June 21, 2021

Hidden Gem: Tantum Ergo II (Kwasniewski)

If you enjoy juicy dissonances and hearing the sun dart in and out of the clouds, you’ll love this modern setting of an ancient text.

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Keven Smith · May 31, 2021

Charles Tournemire: An Organist’s Best Friend

Tournemire’s L’Orgue Mystique is an indispensable resource—especially for organists who are feeling “stuck” in their improvisation.

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Keven Smith · May 18, 2021

On Musicianship: A Thought Experiment for Choir Directors

Teaching sight-singing is important, but let’s not forget that it’s a means to an end.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • Introit (2nd Sn. Ord.)
    This coming Sunday, 18 January 2026, is the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). The ENTRANCE CHANT is set according to the fourth mode, which sounds ‘serious’ or ‘dark’ or ‘haunting’ or ‘mysterious’—and its English adaptation corresponds to the authentic version (“Omnis terra adóret”) found in the GRADUALE ROMANUM. In this rehearsal video (click here) I attempt to sing the melody while simultaneously accompanying myself on the organ. I encourage you to print off the organ accompaniment (PDF) and play through it, because the harmonies are delightful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Spectacular Communion Setting!
    The FAUXBOURDON setting of the Communion for the Baptism of the Lord (which will occur this coming Sunday) strikes me as quite spectacular. The verses—composed by the fifth century Christian poet, Coelius Sedulius—come from a long alphabetical acrostic and are deservedly famous. The feast of the LORD’S BAPTISM was traditionally the octave day of Epiphany, but in the 1962 kalendar it was made ‘more explicit’ or emphasized. The 1970 MISSALE ROMANUM elevated this feast even further.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Music List” (Sunday, 11 January)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (SUNDAY, 11 January 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The FAUXBOURDON verses for the Communion Antiphon—to say nothing of the antiphon itself—are breathtaking. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the monumental feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Reminder” — Month of January (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. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —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
    PDF Download • “In Paradisum” in English
    We always sing the IN PARADISUM in Latin, as printed on this PDF score. I have an appallingly bad memory (meaning I’d be a horrible witness in court). In any event, it’s been brought to my attention that 15 years ago I created this organ accompaniment for the famous and beautiful ‘IN PARADISUM’ Gregorian chant sung in English according to ‘MR3’ (Roman Missal, Third Edition). If anyone desires such a thing, feel free to download and print. Looking back, I wish I’d brought the TENOR and BASS voices into a unison (on B-Natural) for the word “welcome” on the second line.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Goupil deserves the name of martyr not only because he has been murdered by the enemies of God and His Church while laboring in ardent charity for his neighbor, but most of all because he was killed for being at prayer and notably for making the Sign of the Cross.

— St. Isaac Jogues (after the martyrdom of Saint René Goupil)

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