Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Jeff Ostrowski · December 12, 2011

Learn A New Word, See It Within 24 Hours

Happens every time . . .

Fr. David Friel · December 9, 2011

Holy and Without Blemish

Is the Immaculate Conception Relevant?

Fr. David Friel · December 5, 2011

Advent Exercise

Run to Christ

Fr. David Friel · November 29, 2011

The Lectionary for Mass

Where Do the Readings Come From?

Fr. David Friel · November 24, 2011

Follow the Leper

The Way of Gratitude

Fr. David Friel · November 19, 2011

Church Dedication

An Invitation

Corpus Christi Watershed · November 15, 2011

Achille P. Bragers Kyriale (HIGH VOICE)

The famous “Bragers Kyriale” contains organ accompaniments for all the Gregorian Ordinaries of the Mass.

Fr. David Friel · November 9, 2011

Beautiful Churches?

Completely Gratuitous

Fr. David Friel · November 1, 2011

Marching in A Great Multitude

Our Destiny

Fr. David Friel · October 26, 2011

Fear & Trembling

The Anxiety of Abraham

Guest Author · October 18, 2011

The title you choose must not be extremely long

This should be a (relatively short) sentence designed to make people want to read your blog. It can have some “shock value” … but don’t go crazy!

Corpus Christi Watershed · October 12, 2011

Five New Translation Videos • “Glory To God”

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.

Fr. David Friel · September 28, 2011

Weddings & Funerals

What’s the Difference?

Fr. David Friel · September 21, 2011

A Reminder

Message from a One-Month-Old

Fr. David Friel · September 14, 2011

The Triumph of the Cross

Choosing Death

“Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)

I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”

Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Baptism” • A Unique Hymn

Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.

—Jeff Ostrowski