Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Jeff Ostrowski · November 9, 2016

Complete “Ite Missa Est” for Parish Organist

Accompaniments by Achille P. Bragers (1887-1955).

Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2016

Hysteria Over CDW Appointments?

Including two myths: one about the EF, and one about the OF.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2016

Do You Recognize This Hymn Tune? 1

The Brébeuf hymnal will include texts by contemporary Roman Catholic poets.

Guest Author · November 7, 2016

Catholic Liturgy in Secular Sweden

How does a tiny Catholic community in a secularized country celebrate Mass with the Pope?

Fr. David Friel · November 6, 2016

A Triptych on Mercy • Reflection I

The Meaning of Mercy

Jeff Ostrowski · November 4, 2016

Musical Resources • 6 November (Extraordinary Form)

“Grant that…through this sacrament which we have received, whatever is evil in our hearts may be restored by its gift of healing.”

Richard J. Clark · November 4, 2016

Seraphim Singers Premiere “I Am the Land: A Poem in Memory of Óscar Romero”

Assassinated on March 24, 1980 while saying Mass, Romero was beatified by Pope Francis on May 23, 2015.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 3, 2016

New Release! • “Dies Irae” Rehearsal Video

Also includes a printable score with literal English translation!

Jeff Ostrowski · November 1, 2016

“Sanctus” Recorded By Young Ladies From Las Vegas • Fabulous!

Palestrina cleverly interweaves an ancient hymn.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 30, 2016

Musical Resources • Feast of Christ the King

“Ask of Me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance…”

Fr. David Friel · October 30, 2016

The “Cantiones Sacrae” of William Byrd & Thomas Tallis

Why was this 1575 collection a financial failure?

Jeff Ostrowski · October 30, 2016

“Kyrie VIII” Organ Accompaniment by Flor Peeters

…with the Solesmes markings.

Veronica Brandt · October 29, 2016

Christus Vincit – Laudes Regiae

The flexible and stirring chant that is almost a war cry. Two versions to download.

Guest Author · October 28, 2016

What you didn’t realize about World Youth Day…

Guest article by the co-director of music for the English liturgies at WYD 2016.

Andrew Leung · October 27, 2016

New Document on Christian Burial and Cremation

The CDF released a Instruction on Christian Burial and Cremation yesterday.

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)

I’d much rather hear an organist play a simplified version correctly than listen to wrong notes. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #729 in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal. The hymn is “O Jesus Christ, Remember.” I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 1,900 times in a matter of hours—so there seems to be interest in such a project. For the record, this famous text is often married to AURELIA, as it is in the Brébeuf Hymnal. The lyrics come from the pen of Father Edward Caswall (d. 1878), an Oratorian priest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase

Father Adrian Porter, using the cracher dans la soupe example, did a praiseworthy job explaining the difference between ‘dynamic’ and ‘formal’ translation. This is something Monsignor Ronald Knox explained time and again—yet even now certain parties feign ignorance. I suppose there will always be people who pretend the only ‘valid’ translation of Mitigásti omnem iram tuam; avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ… would be “You mitigated all ire of you; you have averted from your indignation’s ire.” Those who would defend such a translation suffer from an unfortunate malady. One of my professors called it “cognate on the brain.”

—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

“Unfortunately, on the one hand a deadly error in judgment placed the official leadership of this committee into the hands of a man who—though generous and brave—was not very knowledgeable: Cardinal Lercaro. He was utterly incapable of resisting the maneuvers of the mealy-mouthed scoundrel that the Neapolitan Vincentian, Bugnini, a man as bereft of culture as he was of basic honesty, soon revealed himself to be.”

— ‘Fr. Louis Bouyer, an important member of the Consilium’