Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Dr. Lucas Tappan · May 5, 2015

Choir School Ingredients

Now all you need are some children for the choir. Get started!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 4, 2015

Video • “Vidi Aquam” Organ Accompaniment By Jeff Ostrowski

The “Method of Gregorian Accompaniment” by Flor Peeters is excellent.

Fr. David Friel · May 3, 2015

Bishop to Restore Traditional Order of the Sacraments of Initiation

Baptism & Confirmation “go together like Easter and Pentecost.”

Veronica Brandt · May 2, 2015

Taking the easy way out, relatively speaking

Starting a collection of easier propers for the Extraordinary Form. A pair of Alleluias and two Offertory antiphons to start the ball rolling.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 1, 2015

Twelve (12) PDF Guides To Pronouncing Latin

Fr. Carlo Rossini’s is probably the best, but 11 more are also provided.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 1, 2015

In This Regard, The EF Cannot Compare To The OF

If you’re searching for “Cum vénerit Paráclitus,” you might want to check the *D* section…

Richard J. Clark · May 1, 2015

Bill Belichick and the Liturgy

Bill Belichick, Gisele, Darelle Revis, and the Roman Rite.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 1, 2015

Resources • 4th Sunday after Easter (1962 Missal)

The Communion can be written “Dum venerit” or “Cum venerit”—both are correct.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 30, 2015

Liturgy Gone Wild

What do progressive liturgists truly want?

Andrew Leung · April 30, 2015

Pastoral Plan (Part 1 of 2)

The Pastoral Plan of the Archdiocese of Atlanta was released recently. How can we implement the plan to a parish music program?

Jeff Ostrowski · April 29, 2015

Rare Video • Richard Nixon Meets With Pope Paul VI

Footage taken by John Ehrlichman a 1970s “home video reel.”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 29, 2015

Liturgical Silence—But Not What You Think!

When I was young, I would have tried to argue.

Aurelio Porfiri · April 29, 2015

Music That Hurts

“Was it not jealousy for the honor of thy house that consumed me? Was it not uttered against thee, the reproach I bore?”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 28, 2015

PDF Download • “The Parish Hymnal” (1957)

“The origins of some are not known due to the long and nearly untraceable popular usage they have enjoyed.” —Gregorian Institute

Jeff Ostrowski · April 27, 2015

Brave Schola Director Posts “Live” Recording • Part 2

We’re having a lot of fun…is that bad?

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed