Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Jeff Ostrowski · July 27, 2017

How Is The “Kiss of Peace” Done Properly?

Do the Altar Servers receive the Kiss of Peace?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 26, 2017

Seven Rules for Church Music (Sir Richard Terry)

“Is plainsong really so dull and dry as some of our singers would have us believe?”

Christopher Mueller · July 25, 2017

What really happened at the Convocation of Catholic Leaders

Beautiful liturgical music happened—in a hotel ballroom, no less!

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 25, 2017

Video • FSSP Altar Server Training Camp

The FSSP seminarians exceeded all expectations!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 24, 2017

“Tu Es Petrus” • Commissioned for the Symposium

This piece by Kevin Allen is based on the plainsong Communion antiphon.

Fr. David Friel · July 23, 2017

Seven Rules for Writing Sermons

Guidance from Bl. John Henry Cardinal Newman

Andrew Leung · July 20, 2017

Recording • Choral Mattins with John Rutter

Here is some great church music coming from the Anglican Cathedral of Hong Kong

Guest Author · July 19, 2017

Palestrina and the Perfecting of the Medieval Ideal of Music as Rational • (Part 3 of 3)

We look to Mary to understand the “self reflection” of sacred polyphony.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 19, 2017

“Mode 4” • How To Teach Your Choir

Did you notice the “ups and downs” were omitted? The choir will fill those in…

Jeff Ostrowski · July 18, 2017

Video • Wilko Brouwers

Can anyone identify the composer of this piece?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 17, 2017

Organ Improvisation • Stupefyingly Awesome!

Does this constitute an organic development?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 16, 2017

Solemn Mass • 1941 vs. 2017

A clever video juxtaposes Fr. Favole’s First Solemn Mass…

Fr. David Friel · July 16, 2017

Carmel 1

The Vineyard of God

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 15, 2017

Benedict XVI’s Message At Cardinal Meisner’s Funeral

“When, on his last morning, Cardinal Meisner did not appear at Mass, he was found dead in his room.”

Richard J. Clark · July 14, 2017

Culmen Et Fons 2017 • On Liturgical Formation • September 18-22

“[T]he parish has seen an astonishing increase in Mass attendance and financial stewardship owing in large part to the addition of a weekly traditional Latin Missa Cantata, use of handcrafted Roman vestments, emphasis on sacred music…”

PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”

Gustav Adolf Merkel (d. 1885) was a German organist, teacher, and composer. Although a Lutheran himself, he held the appointment at the (Roman Catholic) Cathedral of Dresden from 1864 until his death. You can download his Organ Postlude in E-Flat, which I like very much. He has an interesting way of marking the pedal notes. What do you think?

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (Palm Sunday, 2026)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Palm Sunday—a.k.a. “Dominica in palmis de Passione Domini”—which is 29 March 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The OFFERTORY (Impropérium exspectávit cor meum) is quite moving. Even though the COMMUNION ANTIPHON is relatively simple, the Fauxbourdon makes it sound outstanding.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Easter • Would You Sing This Hymn?

He who examines Laudes Dei: a hymnal for Catholic congregations (St. Louis, 1894) will discover this pairing of a hymn for Easter. For the record, this isn’t the only Catholic hymn book to marry that text and melody; e.g. Saint Mark’s Hymnal for Use in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States (Peoria, 1910) does the same thing. Sometimes an unexpected pairing—chosen with sensitivity—can be superb, forcing singers to experience the text in a ‘fresh’ and wonderful way. On the other hand, we sometimes encounter something I’ve called “PERNICIOUS HYMN PAIRINGS.” If you find the subject in intriguing, feel free to peruse an article I published in May of 2023. As always, my email inbox is open if you have a bone to pick with my take.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026

How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”

For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.

—Jeff Ostrowski