Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Veronica Brandt · June 27, 2015

Rebuild my Church

The Maternal Heart of Mary Church is a collegiate style church in Sydney, Australia and home to the only FSSP parish in the country.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 26, 2015

Musical Resources • 5th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

The organist will play softly at the Offertory.

Richard J. Clark · June 26, 2015

Why It is Truly Right and Just to Sing the Preface

Like the Creed, the Preface is a unique place in the Mass where dogma of the Church is expressed. Furthermore, it expresses thanksgiving for the work of salvation.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · June 25, 2015

Surprised By Beauty

It had been over a decade since I had set foot in St. John Cantius—enough time to forget that one never can tell what beautiful surprise awaits unsuspecting visitors.

Andrew Leung · June 25, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Pittsburgh

Stay tuned for daily reports on the CMAA Sacred Music Colloquium next week

Jeff Ostrowski · June 24, 2015

PDF Download • “Gloria In Excelsis” With 3-Voice Polyphony By Cristóbal De Morales

Could this have something to do with how each line comes through “cleanly” in 3-part music?

Jeff Ostrowski · June 24, 2015

Clearest Explanation Ever! —Bishop Gracida On Divorce & Remarriage For Catholics

“It is better to speak of a Declaration of Nullity rather than an Annulment…” —Most Rev. Gracida (1994)

Jeff Ostrowski · June 22, 2015

EWTN Classic • “Theology of Worship” with Fr. Robert Skeris (1998)

Mother Angelica sat down for a wonderful interview with a famous Theologian.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 22, 2015

Richard Rice • SATB Kyrie from Mass VIII

A luxuriant choral setting of the Kyrie from “Mass of the Angels”

Jeff Ostrowski · June 21, 2015

Musical Resources • 4th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

The organist will play softly at the Offertory.

Fr. David Friel · June 21, 2015

Is the 1998 ICEL Missal Translation Worth Another Look?

When reading certain publications, one gets the sense that every Catholic in the world is up-in-arms about the present translation.

Veronica Brandt · June 20, 2015

Wrapped in the Liber Usualis

A scarf adorned with pages from the Liber Usualis. Why not?

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Richard J. Clark · June 19, 2015

Bigger Fish to Fry

Weddings, with all of their challenges offer an important chance to evangelize. God calls us to be fishers of women and men. That’s the most important catch of all.

Andrew Leung · June 18, 2015

“Battles” in the Church (Part 2 of 2)

2 “Liturgical Battles” that should not be fought

Jeff Ostrowski · June 17, 2015

Does Having Children Preclude Service As A Catholic Musician?

Here are some thoughts, but I can’t promise they make sense.

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). 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 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed