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 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.

Veronica Brandt · May 25, 2013

Top five resources for teaching chant to children

The staples in my bag for teaching Gregorian chant to an informal group of homeschoolers.

Veronica Brandt · May 18, 2013

Sharing sacred music online

Putting books and booklets together by cut and paste.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music Director Job • $80,000 per year

Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed