Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Andrew Leung · March 31, 2016

Promoting a Good Choral Culture at Your Parish

Nothing is impossible with God, everyone can promote a good choral culture at their parish.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 31, 2016

Mother Angelica • “60 Minutes” (1984)

This video shows Mother Angelica playing the drums at Mass! (Not kidding!)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 30, 2016

“Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above” • Nine Organ Accompaniments

Why do we love descants so much?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 29, 2016

Mother Angelica, How Bad Was It?

“To preside, a person must live from the rich ambiguity of symbolic reality.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 28, 2016

PDF Download • Monsignor Ronald A. Knox “The Trials Of A Translator” (1949)

Your Easter present has arrived!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 27, 2016

True Meaning Of Easter?

After all the work we musicians do to make Holy Week special…

Andrew Leung · March 25, 2016

Funeral March for Jesus

Annual Good Friday Funeral March in Macau.

Andrew Leung · March 24, 2016

Tantum Ergo by a French Composer

A setting of Tantum Ergo by Déodat de Sévérac.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 24, 2016

Musical Resources • Holy Thursday (1962 Missal)

“By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples: if you have love one for another.”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2016

A Church Music Issue Nobody Will Touch

Numerous articles have been written about Cardinal Sarah’s “foot washing” communique.

Fr. David Friel · March 20, 2016

Baptisms in the Extraordinary Form

Reflections on a Recent Experience

Jeff Ostrowski · March 19, 2016

PDF Download • “Chants Abrégés des Graduels, des Alleluias, et des Traits”

Simplified according to ancient psalm tones.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 19, 2016

Footage From 1968 • Pope Paul VI Giving Out Palms

The Cardinals don’t need to wear red—they have it on already!

Richard J. Clark · March 18, 2016

As the Tension Grows

As Holy Week approaches, the tension is palpable.

Andrew Leung · March 17, 2016

Holy Week — A Week of Love

How can we practice charity during Holy Week?

PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”

Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Sarum’ Good Friday?

Plainsong of the Roman Rite has many variants—i.e. slight ‘variations’ or ‘alterations’ made to the ancient melodies. Variants often thrive in particular religious orders. Likewise, before Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, Gregorian Chant variants were frequently associated with individual cathedrals in England: Hereford, Lincoln, Salisbury, and so forth. In the early 20th century, the (Anglican) organist at Westminster Abbey married “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” to this beautiful variant melody from England. Those who sing Gregorian Chant on Good Friday will recognize the melody. What do you think of this pairing?

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

“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