Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Fr. David Friel · October 25, 2015

Catholic Artists Society 1

The Art of the Beautiful Lecture Series 2015-2016

Veronica Brandt · October 24, 2015

How to do Marian Hymns

Listen to a young group drawing together many different styles of sacred music into new collection.

Richard J. Clark · October 23, 2015

The Seraphim Singers • World Première of work by Adam Wood and Richard J. Clark

World Premiere of my collaboration with poet, Adam Wood

Jeff Ostrowski · October 23, 2015

Musical Resources • Feast of Christ the King (Extraordinary Form)

“And all the kings of the earth shall adore Him; all nations shall serve Him…”

Andrew Leung · October 22, 2015

4 Choral Combinations that would Help Develop You Music Program

4 combinations of voices that would help develop your parish music program.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 21, 2015

PDF Download • “Christ The King Hymnal” (1955)

An extremely rare Canadian hymnal produced by Rev. Aloysius Knauff.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 19, 2015

Beautiful Photo Of Blessed Pope Paul VI

The entrance procession from his coronation.

Cynthia Ostrowski · October 19, 2015

Catholic Bulletin Art • Installment #70

The feast of Christ the King approaches!

Corpus Christi Watershed · October 19, 2015

VIDEO • “Were The Dark Ages Really Dark?”

An interesting video by Anthony Esolen.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 19, 2015

Watershed Turns Nine Today!

Talking about perennial truths doesn’t get as many “clicks” as provocative headlines or character assassination.

Fr. David Friel · October 18, 2015

World Meeting of Families 2015 & the Papal Visit to Philadelphia — Part 2 of 2

Monsignor Marini’s Final Encouragement to Papal Mass Servers

Jeff Ostrowski · October 17, 2015

Musical Resources • 21st Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“…in Thine infinite mercy, O Lord, restore our souls to health…”

Corpus Christi Watershed · October 17, 2015

“Regina Caeli” Sung By Young Children

They miss an ictus or two, but it still sounds glorious!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 17, 2015

Yikes! Even The Monastery Of Solesmes

Did you notice how they carefully deleted all the beautiful artwork?

Jeff Ostrowski · October 16, 2015

Watershed Needs Your Help To Continue!

“Watershed has been extremely helpful and has brought so much solace and support…”

Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major

Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Latin Liturgy Association

We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

New Bulletin Article • “12 October 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 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)

The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams

Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Much more serious was the problem, what to do about ‘thou’ and ‘you.’ I confess I would have liked to go the whole hog, and dispense with the use of ‘thou’ and ‘thee’, even where the Almighty was being addressed. They do these things in France, but I felt sure you could not get it past the British public. Why not, then, have ‘thou’ for God and ‘you’ for man? That is Moffatt’s principle; but it seems to me to break down hopelessly in relation to our Incarnate Lord…”

— Monsignor Ronald A. Knox