Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Fr. David Friel · August 20, 2017

What Do Catholic Teenagers Sing?

A lesson in presumptions and realities

Jeff Ostrowski · August 18, 2017

PDF Download • “O Esca Viatorum”

I am deeply saddened that some people still don’t know where these items are located.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 18, 2017

Musical Resources • 11th Sunday after Pentecost 1

“After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 14, 2017

Ordo Missæ from “People’s Mass Book” (1964)

Two words come to mind: inexplicable and bizarre.

Fr. David Friel · August 13, 2017

Tenth Anniversary Celebration • “Summorum Pontificum”

A Solemn Pontifical Mass will be offered in Philadelphia on September 14, 2017

Richard J. Clark · August 11, 2017

“That’s not Eucharistic” • Why We Sing the Communion Antiphons

What does the Incarnation have to do with the Communion Procession? A great deal.

Andrew Leung · August 10, 2017

Learn From Children Choristers

We church musicians are called to be more childlike than other musicians.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 10, 2017

Musical Resources • 10th Sunday after Pentecost 1

“At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves as just, and despised others…”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 8, 2017

Fr. Patrick T. Brannan, SJ • My Tribute

The cardinal was informed by ICEL: “There is no doubt that Father Brannan knows his Latin and Greek; but does he know English?”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 7, 2017

PDF Download • “Hymns Ancient & Modern”

Including a magnificent hymn for two voices (“Rex Sempiterne”) appropriate throughout the entire liturgical year.

Fr. David Friel · August 4, 2017

The Scandal and Allure of the Priesthood

A Reflection on Priesthood by Archbishop Philip Tartaglia

Jeff Ostrowski · August 3, 2017

Telephone Conversation w/ Faculty

Re: 2017 Sacred Music Symposium

Jeff Ostrowski · August 2, 2017

Musical Resources • Feast of the Transfiguration

“…and Who didst wonderfully foreshow the perfect adoption of Thy children by a voice coming down in a shining cloud…”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 2, 2017

Chants for the Feast of the Transfiguration

Never have I encountered so many typos in one feast!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 2, 2017

“Chanted Angelus” • Where does it come from?

Did Dom Charpentier compose this chant? Really?

“To Cover Sin With Smooth Names”

Monsignor Ronald Knox created several English translations of the PSALTER at the request of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. Readers know that the third edition of the Saint Edmund Campion Missal uses a magnificent translation of the ROMAN CANON (and complete Ordo Missae) created in 1950 by Monsignor Knox. What’s interesting is that, when psalms are used as part of the Ordo Missae, he doesn’t simply copy and paste from his other translations. Consider the beautiful turn of phrase he adds to Psalm 140 (which the celebrant prays as he incenses crucifix, relics, and altar): “Lord, set a guard on my mouth, a barrier to fence in my lips, lest my heart turn to thoughts of evil, to cover sin with smooth names.” The 3rd edition of the CAMPION MISSAL is sleek; it fits easily in one’s hand. The print quality is beyond gorgeous. One must see it to believe it! You owe it to yourself—at a minimum—to examine these sample pages from the full-color section.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Heretical Hymns

As a public service, perhaps a theologian ought to begin assembling a heretical hymns collection. A liturgical book—for funerals!—published by the Collegeville Press contains this monstrosity by someone named “Delores Dufner.” I can’t tell what the lyrics are trying to convey—can you? I detest ‘hymns’ with lines such the one she came up with: “Let the thirsty come and drink, Share My wine and bread.” Somehow, the publication was granted an IMPRIMATUR by Most Rev’d Jerome Hanus (bishop of Saint Cloud) on 16 August 1989. It’s a nice tune, but paired with a nasty text!

—Jeff Ostrowski

💲 5.00 💵

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—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Reminder” — Month of Febr. (2026)

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. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski