Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Veronica Brandt · March 7, 2015

A Homely Slant on Bertalot’s Sight-Singing

Is sight-singing only for elite choirs? Do you need fancy resources?

Richard J. Clark · March 6, 2015

Pope Francis and “recovering the allure of beauty”

If the priest is “excessively” focused on the rubrics “…I do not enter into the mystery” “…if I am a showman, the protagonist” of the Mass, “then I do not enter into the mystery” either.

Andrew Leung · March 5, 2015

Is your Congregation Ready?

One of the ways to help the congregation to enter into prayer during the Sacred Triduum is through catechesis.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 3, 2015

PDF Download • 1895 “Liber Responsorialis” by Solesmes Abbey

This free PDF was provided courtesy of the St. Jean de Lalande Library of Rare Books.

Aurelio Porfiri · March 3, 2015

Permission Needed to Replace the Propers?—(7 of 7)

We should be more and more convinced that the Propers are “healthier” than alternative songs…

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2015

Stuff Choir Directors Say

I’ve discovered how traumatizing it can be when somebody impersonates you.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2015

A Flawed Translation Of Ritus Servandus?

Why are the words “ad orientem” never translated?

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 2, 2015

The Great Secret

Oh, what would it be like to give my choristers a new motet and then lift my hands and go? Oh wait, we already do that.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2015

PDF Download: “67 Hymns” Arranged & Translated by Rev. Adrian Fortescue (1913)

I cannot help but think of this hymn collection as his greatest masterpiece.

Cynthia Ostrowski · March 1, 2015

Permission Needed to Replace the Propers?—(6 of 7)

The wife of a Church musician weighs in…

Fr. David Friel · March 1, 2015

Basking in Beauty’s Glow

Taking the Time to Ponder

Jeff Ostrowski · March 1, 2015

Coolest Picture Of All Time?

Polish Anti-Communist “Army of Independence” in May of 1949.

Veronica Brandt · February 28, 2015

Solfege? There’s an app for that.

“Excuse me, I have to go work on my green belt.”

Richard J. Clark · February 27, 2015

Helping Your Deacon or Priest Learn the Exsultet

Singing the “Exsultet” can be intimidating! Six pages of endless notes and words? Here are some helpful tools.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 27, 2015

Video • Padre Pio Celebrates Mass (5 May 1956)

You can hear Padre Pio singing the Mass.

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