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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

Dr. Tappan • Article Archive

Dr. Lucas Tappan is a conductor and organist whose specialty is working with children. He lives in Kansas with his wife and four children.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Dr. Lucas Tappan · June 9, 2015

Musical Green Eggs and Ham

Considering the great gift Mother Teresa had been to the world, I had to wonder why her sisters chose something as dubious as “Shepherd Me, O God” to be sung at her funeral?

Dr. Lucas Tappan · May 27, 2015

Where Have All The Organists Gone?

What will you do to keep the art of organ playing alive?

Dr. Lucas Tappan · May 19, 2015

One Sure Way To Destroy Your Child’s Musical Potential

If you couldn’t sing, you wouldn’t be able to talk.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · May 12, 2015

The Ingredients of a Choir School (Part II)

A choir school can be an immense help toward our goal of establishing a liturgical choir worthy of its name.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · May 5, 2015

Choir School Ingredients

Now all you need are some children for the choir. Get started!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · April 27, 2015

St. Thomas Choir School, NYC

Perhaps if we invested in better music in our parishes the Good New would be spread more effectively.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · April 21, 2015

“Proper Of The Mass” (Ignatius Press) • Part 6 of 7

If I were to use English settings of the Propers of the Mass, this would be my go-to book!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · April 13, 2015

The Madeleine Choir School

This institution is truly forming Catholic musicians for the future.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · April 2, 2015

Sing One Note

When most singers receive a new motet, they focus on the words rather than the music.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 30, 2015

St. Paul’s Choir School, Harvard Square, Boston

Are you a priest, are you a music director? Perhaps God is calling YOU!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 23, 2015

Regensburger Domspatzen

I would still love to see a choir of this quality in every major Catholic church in America.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 19, 2015

Bertalot’s 5 Wheels (Part 2 of 2)

Steer the Car!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 16, 2015

Most Pure Heart of Mary Schola Cantorum To Sing At Papal Mass

The Schola Cantorum will join the Sistine Chapel Choir, along with a number of other children choirs, to sing for Pope Francis’ Mass on January 6.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 12, 2015

Bertalot’s 5 Wheels (Part 1 of 2)

I have personally reached the point where I am not willing to compromise on this issue with my choristers.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 9, 2015

Most Pure Heart of Mary Schola Cantorum

This fall, Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic School in Kansas will become the third Catholic Choir School in the United States.

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President’s Corner

    PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”
    Gustav Adolf Merkel (d. 1885) was a German organist, teacher, and composer. Although a Lutheran himself, he held the appointment at the (Roman Catholic) Cathedral of Dresden from 1864 until his death. You can download his Organ Postlude in E-Flat, which I like very much. He has an interesting way of marking the pedal notes. What do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Palm Sunday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Palm Sunday—a.k.a. “Dominica in palmis de Passione Domini”—which is 29 March 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The OFFERTORY (Impropérium exspectávit cor meum) is quite moving. Even though the COMMUNION ANTIPHON is relatively simple, the Fauxbourdon makes it sound outstanding.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Easter • Would You Sing This Hymn?
    He who examines Laudes Dei: a hymnal for Catholic congregations (St. Louis, 1894) will discover this pairing of a hymn for Easter. For the record, this isn’t the only Catholic hymn book to marry that text and melody; e.g. Saint Mark’s Hymnal for Use in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States (Peoria, 1910) does the same thing. Sometimes an unexpected pairing—chosen with sensitivity—can be superb, forcing singers to experience the text in a ‘fresh’ and wonderful way. On the other hand, we sometimes encounter something I’ve called “PERNICIOUS HYMN PAIRINGS.” If you find the subject in intriguing, feel free to peruse an article I published in May of 2023. As always, my email inbox is open if you have a bone to pick with my take.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “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
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Unfortunately there are few organists or singers nowadays whose knowledge of Latin is sufficient to enable them to follow easily the meaning of the liturgical texts.”

— Monsignor Charles E. Spence (18 Dec. 1952)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”
  • Fulton J. Sheen • “24-Hour Catechism”
  • Music List • (Palm Sunday, 2026)
  • Easter • Would You Sing This Hymn?
  • “Priest Saying Mass” • Medieval Illumination

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