Views from the Choir Loft

Veronica Brandt • Article Archive

Veronica Brandt holds a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering. As editor, she has produced fine publications (as well as valuable reprints) dealing with Gregorian chant, hymnody, Latin, and other subjects. These publications are distinguished on account of their tastefulness. She lives in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her husband Peter and six children.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Veronica Brandt · August 24, 2013

What not to do on GitHub

Read my mistakes to save yourself the trouble.

Veronica Brandt · August 17, 2013

A hymn for St Mary of the Cross

A beautiful hymn from Rev Fr Popplewell FSSP from Canberra, Australia.

Veronica Brandt · August 10, 2013

The Living Parish Hymn Book

Clearing up a mystery of childhood memories for certain Australians.

Veronica Brandt · August 3, 2013

What’s so good about growing up?

“I have the best job in the world, I get to see people grow.” from a nurse looking after young families.

Veronica Brandt · July 27, 2013

Comprehensive Conversation on Veils

An interior talk about why woman cover their heads at Mass.

Veronica Brandt · July 20, 2013

Here I owned Thy Presence

Owning up to the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Do hymns help?

Veronica Brandt · July 13, 2013

What’s new with the age old chant?

Gregorio has a wiki and ideas on typing up semiology.

Veronica Brandt · July 6, 2013

At home it doesn’t have to be perfect

Singing from the Liturgy of the Hours at home is beautiful treasure to share with your family.

Veronica Brandt · June 29, 2013

Of Singers and Drawers

Can’t sing, can’t draw, can type a little.

Veronica Brandt · June 22, 2013

Ut Queant Laxis time soon!

The hymn that gave us “Do Re, Mi” and how to type it. PDF score included.

Veronica Brandt · June 16, 2013

Try Illuminare Score Editor

Yet another training video, this time simpler than ever.

Veronica Brandt · June 15, 2013

Restoring Catholic Music in the Home

… one week at a time. Some families are keen to teach their children good hymns, but don’t know where to start.

Veronica Brandt · June 10, 2013

Setting propers to psalm tones with gregorio

Another training video showing another easy way to use gregorio online – this time while holding a 4 month old baby girl!

Veronica Brandt · June 8, 2013

GABC Transcription Tools

Computers making life easier for once. No, really!

Veronica Brandt · June 1, 2013

As easy as (G)ABC

Including newly typeset Gregorian chant in your booklets has never been easier.

“Music List” • 9 Nov. (Dedic. Lateran)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 9 November 2025, which is the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the sensational feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • Offertory (9 Nov.)

This year, the feast of 9 November replaces the Sunday. The OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF file) for 9 November is exceedingly beautiful. The ‘Laterani’ mansion at Rome was the popes’ residence for a thousand years. The church there still is the cathedral church of Rome—“Mother and Head of all churches of the City and of the World,” says the inscription over the entrance. It is dedicated to Our Holy Savior, but has long been commonly known as “St. John Lateran” owing to its famous baptistery of St. John the Baptist. In this church, the pope’s own ‘cathedra’ (episcopal chair) stands in the apse.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Job Opening • $65,000 per year +

A parish 15 minutes away from me is looking for a choir director and organist. The parish is filled with young families. When I began my career, I would have jumped at such an opportunity! Saint Patrick’s in Grand Haven has a job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year including benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” I lived in Kansas for 15 years, Texas for 10 years, and Los Angeles for 10 years. Michigan is the closest place I know to heaven!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“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