Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Fr. David Friel · May 17, 2012

Holy Communion

Of Igor & Ordination

Fr. David Friel · May 16, 2012

Queen of May

Model of Motherhood

Fr. David Friel · May 14, 2012

Thoughts on Praise II

Praise of God Is Our Salvation

Jeff Ostrowski · May 7, 2012

Learn A New Word, See It Within 24 Hours (5)

“Good things come to them what wait.” This bizarre phenomenon continues to haunt my life.

Fr. David Friel · April 25, 2012

Thoughts on Praise I

The Assembly of the Saints

Fr. David Friel · April 24, 2012

The Resurrected Christ

We Are Witnesses of These Things

Jeff Ostrowski · April 23, 2012

Learn A New Word, See It Within 24 Hours (4)

“What I’m tempted to believe rises to the level of an axiom: We always have time for whatever it is that we want to have time for.”

Fr. David Friel · April 18, 2012

Spare Us, O Lord!

The Meaning of Mercy

Fr. David Friel · April 9, 2012

A Father Who Keeps His Promises

The Easter Miracle

Jeff Ostrowski · April 5, 2012

The UBI CARITAS chant for Holy Thursday

Download five (5) different free versions of the “Ubi Caritas”

Fr. David Friel · April 2, 2012

Hebdomas Sancta

Choose Your Own Character

Fr. David Friel · March 21, 2012

St. Joseph Triduum — Installment No. 3

Part 3 of 3: Joseph of Nazareth

Fr. David Friel · March 19, 2012

St. Joseph Triduum — Installment No. 2

Part 2 of 3: Joseph of Arimathea

Jeff Ostrowski · March 15, 2012

Hymns: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know (1 of 2)

PART 1: What is a Catholic “hymn” ?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 15, 2012

Hymns: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know (2 of 2)

PART 2: How do hymns fit into the Catholic Mass ?

Message from the Vice-President!

The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn

A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!” Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Seven (7) Hymn Verses for November!

In the month of November, we remember in a special way the souls in purgatory. The BRÉBEUF HYMNAL often includes text alone versions for its hymns; why is that? The short answer is: flexibility. The “text only” version allows each choirmaster to employ a myriad of melodies. For example, I recently set the English translation of “De Profúndis” with the DAVOST MELODY (PDF). We are singing this before November ends. Indeed, you can hear our volunteer singing this (in real life) if you click here.

—Jeff Ostrowski