Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Jeff Ostrowski · January 14, 2015

Hypocrisy About Francis From An Unlikely Source

Resist the temptation to believe that Francis is 80,000 times as important as Benedict since he receives 80,000 times as much media coverage.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 13, 2015

PDF Download: Notre Dame Hymn Tune Book (1905)

“They call me a Papist and they laugh at my creed…”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 12, 2015

PDF Download: Rare Hymnal By Boston’s Archbishop

Can you imagine singing all those vernacular hymns while Mass is happening?

Cynthia Ostrowski · January 12, 2015

Catholic Line Art, Black and White • Installment #66

Today’s installment is a rare image of Our Lady’s Nativity.

Aurelio Porfiri · January 12, 2015

The Verge Of The Abyss

“Fellow church musicians, rejoice and be glad!” —Aurelio Porfiri

Jeff Ostrowski · January 12, 2015

Cristóbal de Morales Missa “Ut Re Mi Fa Sol La.”

You’ll want to immediately download these scores, videos, and Mp3 files!

Fr. David Friel · January 11, 2015

What to Do with Musicam Sacram

Does the 1967 Instruction on Music in the Liturgy have any relevance today?

Veronica Brandt · January 10, 2015

We want to be fed

What do you think of a new Catechetical Lectionary?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 9, 2015

Short And Simple Organ Postludes & Preludes

Many of you asked me to share the results, which I have done below.

Richard J. Clark · January 9, 2015

The Lowest Musical Aspiration Possible – Or the Highest?

Is being a church musician the lowest musical aspiration possible? Or the Highest?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 8, 2015

Musical Resources • Holy Family

Many don’t realize that all the EF chants for the Holy Family can be used at OF—cf. section 397 of the Ordo Cantus Missæ.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 8, 2015

“The best I have ever seen. Anywhere. In the world. Period.” —Mr. John Sonnen

“The vitality of the Classical Rite is as fresh as ever.”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 7, 2015

Rare Photograph: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen With Father Joseph Ratzinger in 1965

Archbishop Sheen said nary a word about any liturgical reforms following the Council.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 7, 2015

Was Fulton J. Sheen Ever Wrong?

There’s a discrepancy in this Sunday’s EF Introit.

Andrew R. Motyka · January 7, 2015

The American Idolization of Liturgy

Sometimes I wish people didn’t have so many opinions about the liturgy.

“Sanctus VIII” • Organ Accompaniment

A few days ago, I composed this organ harmonization for SANCTUS VIII. This Mass is traditionally called Missa de ángelis or “Mass of the angels.” In French, it is Messe de Anges. You can evaluate my attempt to simultaneously accompany myself on the pipe organ (click here) while singing the melody. My parish is currently singing this setting.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (5th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for this coming Sunday, 8 February 2026, which is the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. You will probably notice it isn’t as ‘complete’ or ‘spiffy’ as usual, owing to some difficulties which took place this week.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Communion” (5th Sunday in Ordin.)

The COMMUNION ANTIPHON for this coming Sunday, 8 February 2026—which is the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)—is truly delightful. You can download the musical score completely free of charge. This text will be familiar to altar boys, because it’s PSALM 42. The Feder Missal makes the following claim about that psalm: “A hymn of a temple musician from Jerusalem: he is an exile in a heathen land, and he longs for the holy city and his ministry in the Temple there. The Church makes his words her own.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of Febr. (2026)

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. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski