Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Veronica Brandt · May 24, 2014

Connection, empowerment and raffle tickets

Is selling raffle tickets a form of almsgiving? Or is it more like begging? Or is it just playing a game?

Richard J. Clark · May 23, 2014

Mass in Honor of Pope Saint John Paul II on “Sounds from the Spires” and the Youth-Based Chant Movement

On air discussion with Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Director of Music at St. Patrick’s Cathedral – the youth-propelled chant movement, the new economic model of publishing, and how these are reshaping the liturgical landscape…and broadcast of the “Mass in Honor of Pope Saint John Paul II”.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 22, 2014

Maurice Lavanoux • “Liturgical Arts”

Anyone have copies of this old magazine?

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 22, 2014

HOME VIDEO • Jogues Illuminated Missal

Jeff discovered that making an impromptu video is harder than he thought!

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · May 22, 2014

Three Categories of Liturgical Problem

We need to know the different kinds of problems there are, and who in the Church is qualified or required to fix them.

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 21, 2014

SAMPLE PAGES • Jogues Illuminated Missal

These Mass texts are “3L” : Large, Lovely, Legible … silly sounding, but true!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 20, 2014

Pope St. John Paul II Celebrates Mass “Ad Orientem”

John Paul II leads the congregation facing the traditional way during his June 1999 visit to Poland.

Aurelio Porfiri · May 20, 2014

Blog Etiquette & “Liturgy Wars”

I’m amazed to see how being “anonymous” can make people behave in a way they would never behave if they used their true names.

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 19, 2014

Mass In Honor Of Saint Isaac Jogues

Using the New Translation of the Roman Missal.

Guest Author · May 19, 2014

Homily: 5th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

The Church in its missionary efforts has always looked out also for the temporal well being of individuals.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 19, 2014

PDF Download: Extremely Rare Book Of Propers (1962)

A book which Bugnini called the “precursor” to the Simple Gradual is now online!

Guest Author · May 19, 2014

An Overview of the Music Program at Our Lady of the Atonement Church & Academy (Part 1)

On Fridays, Mass is celebrated in Latin according to the Ordinary Form. Each day, one of the school choirs leads the liturgical singing.

Fr. David Friel · May 18, 2014

Collected Works of Joseph Ratzinger

Beginning with Liturgy

Veronica Brandt · May 17, 2014

Gregorian Chant in Star Wars

Dies Irae, Day of Wrath, a 13th century hymn that just won’t die.

Richard J. Clark · May 16, 2014

United in the Eucharist — Conservative, Liberal, or Universal?

These questions are nonsense of course and we are beyond all of this.

“Reminder” — Month of April (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

Simplified Accompaniment (Easter Hymn)

Number 36 in the Brébeuf Hymnal is “At the Lamb’s high feast we sing,” an English translation for Ad Cenam Agni Próvidi (which was called “Ad Régias Agni Dapes” starting 1631). As of this morning, you can download a simplified keyboard accompaniment for it. Simply click here and scroll to the bottom. Many organists are forced to serve simultaneously as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult—which explains why choirmasters appreciate these simplified keyboard accompaniments. Sadly, many readers will click that link but forget to scroll to the bottom where the simplified PDF file is located.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Quasi Modo Sunday”

The Introit for “Quasi Modo Sunday” (12 April 2026) is particularly beautiful. The musical score can be downloaded as a PDF file, and so can the organ accompaniment. The official language of the Catholic Church is Latin (whereas Greek is our mother tongue). Vatican II said Gregorian Chant must be given “first place” under normal circumstances. As a result, some parishes will rightly sing the authentic version. On the other hand, because so many USA dioceses disobey the mandate of Vatican II, some musicians sing plainsong in the vernacular. I have attempted to simultaneously accompany myself on the pipe organ while singing the English version. Although very few take advantage of it, the complete Proprium Missae is posted at the flourishing feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Anima Christi”

I received a request for an organ accompaniment I created way back in 2007 for the “Anima Christi” Gregorian Chant. You can download this PDF file which has the score in plainsong followed by a keyboard accompaniment. Many melodies have been paired with “Anima Christi” over the centuries, but this is—perhaps—the most common one.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)

On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026

How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!

—Jeff Ostrowski