Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Jeff Ostrowski · November 7, 2017

New English Hymnal • Voice-Leading

Constant critics are corrosive.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2017

6 Suggestions • “Promoting The Latin Mass”

Msgr. Charles Pope has several sagacious suggestions!

Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2017

Archbishop Sheen Played The Organ!

Sheen told Ferris that he wanted a classical repertoire at the cathedral in Rochester, including Gregorian chant.

Fr. David Friel · November 5, 2017

Prayers of Preparation and Farewell

Two prayers for improving one’s liturgical disposition

Jeff Ostrowski · November 3, 2017

Never Print With Adobe Acrobat

It’s remarkable that owning fully-updated software and pristine hardware makes no difference…

Andrew Leung · November 2, 2017

Video • My New Project

Vox Antiqua, the new Catholic professional choir in Hong Kong, in action!

Jeff Ostrowski · November 2, 2017

PDF Download • All Souls Day

Here’s the booklet we used for All Souls (2 November).

Jeff Ostrowski · October 31, 2017

Brave Director Posts “Live” Recording

A word of encouragement for choirmasters…

Jeff Ostrowski · October 30, 2017

Powerful & Thought-Provoking

“We are giving the world a chance to think about the ethics of choosing which humans get a chance at life.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 30, 2017

Hymn by Professor at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

This PDF score has the Latin (on one side) and two English versions on the other.

Fr. David Friel · October 29, 2017

All Saints and the Extraordinary Form of the Mass

The Roman Rite gives strong attention to the presence of the saints.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 29, 2017

PDF Download • Congregational “Dies Irae”

…including two reasons I believe a liturgical reform was desired in the 1960s.

Richard J. Clark · October 27, 2017

A Requiem on All Souls Day at St. Patrick’s Cathedral

This work is based on the Gregorian Chants of the Requiem Mass. It was directly inspired by the Requiem Mass in the Extraordinary Form at the 2012 Sacred Music Colloquium in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Andrew Leung · October 26, 2017

Singing with Peter Philips

Peter Philips: “Polyphony shouldn’t be sung with absolute straight tone—that is not real singing!”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 26, 2017

Josquin Des Prez Vandalized Stuff (!)

It’s hard for us to remember that the famous composers were not hired as such—they were hired as singers.

New Bulletin Article • “21 September 2025”

My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 21 September 2025) discusses some theological items—supported by certain verses in ancient Catholic hymns—and ends by explaining why certain folks become delirious with jealousy when they observe feats by Monsignor Ronald Knox.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!

It’s always amusing to see old diocesan newspapers—in huge capital letters—advertising the Cheapest Catholic Paper in the United States. The correspondent who sent this to me added: “I can think of certain composers, published by large companies in our own day, who could truthfully brag about the most tawdry compositions in the world!” I wonder what she could have meant by such a cryptic comment…

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies

Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Gregory Murray, who produced this clever harmonization (PDF) of “O SANCTISSIMA.” It’s always amazed me that Dom Gregory—a truly inspired composer—was so confused when it came to GREGORIAN CHANT. Throughout his life, he published contradictory statements, veering back-and-forth like a weather vane. Toward the end of his life, he declared: “I see clearly that the need for reform in liturgical music arose, not in the 18th and 19th centuries, but a thousand years earlier—in the 8th and 9th centuries, or even before that. The abuses began, not with Mozart and Haydn, but with those over-enthusiastic medieval musicians who developed the elaborate and flamboyant Gregorian Chant.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Karl Keating • “Canonization Questions”

We were sent an internet statement (screenshot) that’s garnered significant attention, in which KARL KEATING (founder of Catholic Answers) speaks about whether canonizations are infallible. Mr. Keating seems unaware that canonizations are—in the final analysis—a theological opinion. They are not infallible, as explained in this 2014 article by a priest (with a doctorate in theology) who worked for multiple popes. Mr. Keating says: “I’m unaware of such claims arising from any quarter until several recent popes disliked by these Traditionalists were canonized, including John XXIII, Paul VI, and John Paul II. Usually Paul VI receives the most opprobrium.” Mr. Keating is incorrect; e.g. Father John Vianney, several centuries ago, taught clearly that canonizations are not infallible. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen would be another example, although clearly much more recent than Saint John Vianney.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Vatican II Changed Wedding Propers?

It’s often claimed that the wedding propers were changed after Vatican II. As a matter of fact, that is a false claim. The EDITIO VATICANA propers (Introit: Deus Israel) remained the same after Vatican II. However, a new set of propers (Introit: Ecce Deus) was provided for optional use. The same holds true for the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great on 3 September: the 1943 propers (Introit: Si díligis me) were provided for optional use, but the traditional PROPRIA MISSAE (Introit: Sacerdótes Dei) were retained; they weren’t gotten rid of. The Ordo Cantus Missae (1970) makes this crystal clear, as does the Missal itself. There was an effort made in the post-conciliar years to eliminate so-called “Neo-Gregorian” chants, but (contrary to popular belief) most were retained: cf. the feast of Christ the King, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and so forth.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)

How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Although the Mass contains much instruction for the faithful, it has nevertheless not seemed expedient to the fathers that it be celebrated everywhere in the vernacular. The holy synod commands pastors and everyone who has the care of souls to explain frequently during the celebration of the Masses, either themselves or through others, some of the things that are read in the Mass, and among other things to expound some mystery of this most Holy Sacrifice, especially on Sundays and feastdays.”

— ‘Council of Trent, XII:8 (1562)’