Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 28, 2013

St. Anne Line • Practice Videos

ICEL, New Translation, Roman Missal, Third Edition, 3rd, Mass, Catholic, English,

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 28, 2013

St. Edmund Arrowsmith • Practice Videos

ICEL, New Translation, Roman Missal, Third Edition, 3rd, Mass, Catholic, English,

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 28, 2013

St. Bernadette Mass Setting • Audio Files

ICEL, New Translation, Roman Missal, Third Edition, 3rd, Mass, Catholic, English,

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 28, 2013

Saint Theodore • Practice Videos

ICEL, New Translation, Roman Missal, Third Edition, 3rd, Mass, Catholic, English,

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 28, 2013

Mass of the Prophets and Martyrs • Audio Files

Mass of the Prophets and Martyrs

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 28, 2013

St. Edmund Jennings • Practice Videos

ICEL, New Translation, Roman Missal, Third Edition, 3rd, Mass, Catholic, English,

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 27, 2013

How To Chant The Readings At Mass

Instructions for deacons learning to sing the Gospel during the Catholic Mass.

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 27, 2013

Sung Propers: Various Simple Settings In English

Here’s a comparison of several complete musical settings of the Mass Propers by Fr. Guy Nicholls, Fr. Paul Arbogast, and others.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 27, 2013

Failure, The Liturgy, & Today’s Mr. Know-It-All

The priest who rejected my submission was very professional, polite, and encouraging.

Fr. David Friel · May 26, 2013

“Father, Not Everyone Can Sing”

How to Respond

Jeff Ostrowski · May 26, 2013

Sibelius 7 • Get Rid Of Multi Rests!

“How can I get rid of those stupid multirests in Sibelius?”

Jeff Ostrowski · May 25, 2013

Fulton Sheen & The Holy Eucharist

Sheen’s book “Life of Christ” is such a treasure.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 25, 2013

In Search Of Polyphonic Recordings By Good Choirs

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Veronica Brandt · May 25, 2013

Top five resources for teaching chant to children

The staples in my bag for teaching Gregorian chant to an informal group of homeschoolers.

Corpus Christi Watershed · May 24, 2013

Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth On Sacrosanctum Concilium

“The singing of the Proper texts rather than the endless substitution of songs and hymns, are only now being seriously considered and implemented.” — Executive Director of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL)

“Offertory” at Catholic Funerals

I have argued that the OFFERTORY—at least in its ancient form—is more of a responsory than an antiphon. The 1962 Missal specifically calls it “Antiphona ad Offertorium.” From now on, I plan to use this beautiful setting (PDF) at funerals, since it cleverly inserts themes from the absolution of the body. Tons more research needs to be done on the OFFERTORY, which often is a ‘patchwork’ stitching together various beginnings and endings of biblical verses. For instance, if you examine the ancient verses for Dómine, vivífica me (30th Sunday in Ordinary Time) you’ll discover this being done in a most perplexing way. Rebecca Maloy published a very expensive book on the OFFERTORY, but it was a disappointment. Indeed, I can’t think of a single valuable insight contained in her book. What a missed opportunity!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“In Paradisum” • Gregorian Chant

As a RECESSIONAL on All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), we will sing In Paradísum Dedúcant Te Ángeli (PDF). When it comes to Gregorian Chant, this is one of the most popular “songs.” Frankly, all the prayers and chants from the traditional REQUIEM MASS (Missa exsequialis or Missa pro defunctis) are incredibly powerful and never should’ve been scuttled. Click here to hear “In Paradisum” in a recording I made this afternoon. Professor Louis Bouyer spoke of the way Bugnini “scuttled the office of the dead” in this fascinating excerpt from his memoirs. In his book, La riforma litugica (1983), Bugnini bragged—in quite a shameful way—about eliminating the ancient funeral texts, and even admitted those venerable texts were “beloved” (his word) by Catholics.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • All Souls (2 November)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 2 November 2025, which is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (“All Souls”). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. In my humble opinion, it’s weird to have the feast of All Saints on a Sunday. No wonder the close associate of Pope Saint Paul VI said the revised KALENDAR was “the handiwork of a trio of maniacs.” However, I can’t deny that sometimes the sacred liturgy consists of elements that are seemingly contradictory: e.g. the Mode 7 “De Profúndis” ALLELUIA, or the Mode 8 “Dulce lignum” ALLELUIA on the various ancient feasts of the Holy Cross (3 May, 14 September, and so on).

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski

New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”

My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.

—Jeff Ostrowski