Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Andrew Leung · September 10, 2015

Praying for Our Dead

“Praying for Our Dead: Essential Music for Catholic Funeral Mass” workshop will be held in Jaspers, GA on October 3.

Guest Author · September 9, 2015

PDF Download • SAB Setting of “Jesu Rex Admirabilis”

Including an update on wonderful things happening for Sacred Music in Colorado!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · September 8, 2015

Teaching New Singers

I like to cover (or re-cover) all of the basics with the boys and girls.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 8, 2015

Video Demonstration • “Do Choral Vowels Matter?”

Can you see the difference? Can you hear the difference?

Dr. Alfred Calabrese · September 8, 2015

“Imagination, Preparation, Passion” • Getting the most from your choir

“The conductor should be able to hear a perfect performance of the piece before it even begins.” —Dr. Alfred Calabrese

Christopher Mueller · September 7, 2015

Liturgy And Diversity

“His answer was surprising to me, and I thought it both prudential and catholic.” —Chris Mueller

Jeff Ostrowski · September 7, 2015

A New Edition Of The 1962 Missal?

Download these Propers for Saint Pio of Pietrelcina—according to the 1962 Missale Romanum!

Fr. David Friel · September 6, 2015

The Importance of Uniforms

The world needs the witness of priests in ordinary life, not just inside the church building.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 5, 2015

“Wearing The Cassock” • A Bishop Weighs In

“I think that all of us clerics should rethink our choice of clothing…” —Bishop René H. Gracida

Veronica Brandt · September 5, 2015

Mind, Senses and Recorded Music

A little pop psychology for your weekend.

Richard J. Clark · September 4, 2015

Six Things Of Which We’ve Lost Sight

No. 3: Christ is the center of our music—not us.

Andrew Leung · September 3, 2015

Cardinal Burke will be in Steubenville!

Cardinal Burke will be visiting Steubenville next Tuesday.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 3, 2015

Rehearsal Videos • “Jesu Dulcis Memoria”

I first sang this marvelous piece as a freshman in college, under Dr. James F. Daugherty.

Andrew Leung · September 2, 2015

Video • Ars Celebrandi 2015

A video of Ars Celebrandi Workshops in Poland

Jeff Ostrowski · September 2, 2015

Musical Resources • 15th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“May thine abiding loving-kindness, O Lord, cleanse and fortify thy Church…”

Job Opening • $65,000 per year +

A parish 15 minutes away from me is looking for a choir director and organist. The parish is filled with young families. When I began my career, I would have jumped at such an opportunity! Saint Patrick’s in Grand Haven has a job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year including benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” I lived in Kansas for 15 years, Texas for 10 years, and Los Angeles for 10 years. Michigan is the closest place I know to heaven!

—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

“Offertory” at Catholic Funerals

I have argued that the OFFERTORY—at least in its ancient form—is more of a responsory than an antiphon. The 1962 Missal specifically calls it “Antiphona ad Offertorium.” From now on, I plan to use this beautiful setting (PDF) at funerals, since it cleverly inserts themes from the absolution of the body. Tons more research needs to be done on the OFFERTORY, which often is a ‘patchwork’ stitching together various beginnings and endings of biblical verses. For instance, if you examine the ancient verses for Dómine, vivífica me (30th Sunday in Ordinary Time) you’ll discover this being done in a most perplexing way. Rebecca Maloy published a very expensive book on the OFFERTORY, but it was a disappointment. Indeed, I can’t think of a single valuable insight contained in her book. What a missed opportunity!

—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

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

“The introduction of the vernacular will certainly be a great sacrifice for those who know the beauty, the power and the expressive sacrality of Latin. We are parting with the speech of the Christian centuries; we are becoming like profane intruders in the literary preserve of sacred utterance. We will lose a great part of that stupendous and incomparable artistic and spiritual thing, the Gregorian chant. We have reason indeed for regret […] We are giving up something of priceless worth.”

— Pope Paul VI