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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 · September 20, 2016

Problems Encountered Teaching Rhythms

Well, today I decided to buck the system (in spite of my general LOVE of tradition) and simply referred to the various notes by their Takadimi syllables.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · September 6, 2016

The Current Heresy

He was right, I spoke an unforgivable heresy—boys and girls are different.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · August 31, 2016

Give Yourself a Boost in the New Choral Year

The grandmother of 5 choristers informed me that one of her granddaughters told her rehearsal wasn’t long enough—it seemed to be over just as it was starting!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · August 23, 2016

A New Choral Year Off to the Races

If you aren’t used to working with children, it can be a bit daunting on your first day…

Dr. Lucas Tappan · August 16, 2016

Strive for Excellence

Let’s face facts—the English cathedral system of forming church musicians works.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · July 27, 2016

The Musical Power of the Priest in the Ordinary Form

One musical advantage for the priest celebrating the Ordinary Form is that he can play an active role leading the music, yet still celebrate Mass.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · July 19, 2016

Ad Orientem and Sacred Music

Father told me that he felt extremely awkward standing in the sanctuary for two minutes while the congregation did nothing but look at him.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · July 5, 2016

Sing the Mass

Whether your particular parishes are rich or poor, big or small, love sacred music or hate it, there is one thing that I challenge all of you to do, and that is to sing the Mass.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · June 30, 2016

Do My Eyes Deceive Me?

I’ve often told my choir members that before I die they will be singing from music displayed on some form of a tablet, but I never thought I’d see the Capella Sistina blazing the trail!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · June 28, 2016

Theology and Music

I hope and pray the Church continues to raise up true artists who will bring the Gospel to the world through the greatest of all the Church’s arts—Music.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · June 14, 2016

The Theology of the Organ

Let’s put the organ back on the pedestal it rightfully deserves.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · June 7, 2016

Choral Repertoire

I plan to do more of this in the future and I would recommend it to all others who direct any kind of church choir.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · May 24, 2016

Teaching the Very Young

I have received a number of emails of late from such musicians with questions regarding the musical training of the very young…

Dr. Lucas Tappan · May 17, 2016

Video • Most Pure Heart of Mary Schola Cantorum

Our program continues to expand, and we look forward to working with more than 60 students next year!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · May 10, 2016

How Do We Get the Boys to Sing?

Why is sports so popular and communal singing so undervalued?

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)
    I’d much rather hear an organist play a simplified version correctly than listen to wrong notes. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #729 in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal. The hymn is “O Jesus Christ, Remember.” I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 1,900 times in a matter of hours—so there seems to be interest in such a project. For the record, this famous text by Oratorian priest, Father Edward Caswall (d. 1878) is often married to AURELIA, as it is in the Brébeuf Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase
    Father Adrian Porter, using the cracher dans la soupe example, did a praiseworthy job explaining the difference between ‘dynamic’ and ‘formal’ translation. This is something Monsignor Ronald Knox explained time and again—yet even now certain parties feign ignorance. I suppose there will always be people who pretend the only ‘valid’ translation of Mitigásti omnem iram tuam; avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ… would be “You mitigated all ire of you; you have averted from your indignation’s ire.” Those who would defend such a translation suffer from an unfortunate malady. One of my professors called it “cognate on the brain.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Father Cuthbert Lattey • “The Hebrew MSS”
    Father Cuthbert Lattey (d. 1954) wrote: “In a large number of cases the ancient Christian versions and some other ancient sources seem to have been based upon a better Hebrew text than that adopted by the rabbis for official use and alone suffered to survive. Sometimes, too, the cognate languages suggest a suitable meaning for which there is little or no support in the comparatively small amount of ancient Hebrew that has survived. The evidence of the metre is also at times so clear as of itself to furnish a strong argument; often it is confirmed by some other considerations. […] The Jewish copyists and their directors, however, seem to have lost the tradition of the metre at an early date, and the meticulous care of the rabbis in preserving their own official and traditional text (the ‘massoretic’ text) came too late, when the mischief had already been done.” • Msgr. Knox adds: “It seems the safest principle to follow the Latin—after all, St. Jerome will sometimes have had a better text than the Massoretes—except on the rare occasions when there is no sense to be extracted from the Vulgate at all.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Reminder” — Month of November (2025)
    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
    Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)
    We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Been to Catholic church and heard Mass. Execrable music! Organ played by a young girl who made impossible harmonies. Sermon very long. The preacher screamed loud enough to tire his lungs. The congregation was affected.”

— Louis Moreau Gottschalk (8 May 1864)

Recent Posts

  • “Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)
  • ‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase
  • Father Cuthbert Lattey • “The Hebrew MSS”
  • Re: The People’s Mass Book (1974)
  • They did a terrible thing

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