Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Jeff Ostrowski · December 30, 2012

Introduction To “Views From The Choir Loft”

We are excited to announce a new Blog dedicated to Sacred Music & Liturgy!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 24, 2012

Biography • Jeffrey M. Ostrowski

Jeff holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas . . .

Fr. David Friel · December 24, 2012

Midnight Mass

A Timeless Tradition

Aurelio Porfiri · December 22, 2012

Aurelio Porfiri

Aurelio is renowned as a conductor, theorist, organist, author …

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · December 22, 2012

Reason and Mystery

Let us not abandon the heart of the mind and the mind of the heart.

Fr. David Friel · December 21, 2012

What Jesus Looked Like

An Idea

Dr. Lucas Tappan · December 21, 2012

Biography • Dr. Lucas Tappan

Lucas founded the Most Pure Heart of Mary Schola in 2011…

Cynthia Ostrowski · December 20, 2012

Latin Mass In The Pantheon (Rome)

Many people might not realize the Pantheon has been a Catholic Church for centuries.

Fr. David Friel · December 18, 2012

The Antidote to Violence

Welcoming the Child

Fr. David Friel · December 14, 2012

Advent vs. the Saints

Can We Have a Truce?

Cynthia Ostrowski · December 14, 2012

How To Purchase More Than One Book On LULU

This is a video with many tips on how to use LULU.

Fr. David Friel · December 8, 2012

The Hope of Sinners

Mary Immaculate

Jeff Ostrowski · December 6, 2012

He’s At It Again . . . And Again.

Perhaps the reader is wondering why I keep saying the same thing over and over again . . .

Fr. David Friel · December 2, 2012

The Worth of Waiting

Of Advent & Strawberry Festivals

Fr. David Friel · November 30, 2012

Andrew’s Orations

Why I Love Being a Roman Catholic

When Liturgists Are Dopey

Some liturgists are incapable of being persuaded. They have an idea in their head, and they’ll take it to the grave. For instance, they believe a “vigil” must occur at night—in spite of how liturgical vigils evolved over the centuries. They believe a priest singing Ite, missa est is incorrect—since they believe only deacons should sing that. It’s rather like someone who insists that a GARAGE SALE means someone’s actual garage is being sold.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (28th Sund. Ordinary Time)

This coming Sunday—13 October 2024—is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. Some have expressed interest in perusing my “ORDER OF MUSIC.” If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The Communion hymn we’re singing—set to the tune of FREUEN WIR UNS ALL IN EIN—is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • For Sunday (13-Oct-2024)

Here’s the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON (PDF)—Gregorian Chant in English—for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 October 2024). The Mode 3 version which served as its inspiration will be familiar to plainchant scholars. You can also download this organ accompaniment which corresponds to the vocalist score. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, you can listen to my attempt at singing it while simultaneously playing the organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

The Best Conducting Advice

The best conducting advice I’ve ever received is from a book by Imogen Holst (daughter of Gustav Holst). At the very end of her book Conducting a Choir: A Guide for Amateurs, she writes: “The main essentials are the same in conducting amateurs and conducting professionals. And any professional singer or player would agree that the three golden rules apply to all conductors: learn your score thoroughly, don’t talk too much, and listen to what you are hearing.”

—Daniel Tucker

Finding New Motets

It strikes me that many of the best motets my choir sings are ones I found by accident. These are motets that popped up as YouTube suggestions, or that someone mentioned in a Facebook thread and I casually gave them a listen. The lesson? Be open to finding good sacred music even when you’re not desperately searching for something to sing at Christmas.

—Keven Smith

Mass • “Singing” Vs. “Reciting”

This past week, as I was cantoring one morning, I forgot to turn on the microphone which delayed the “Holy, Holy” about 2-3 seconds. The congregation started to recite the text and made it about halfway through while I was still singing the third Holy. Once everyone realized I was chanting, they joined in, but one thing stuck out very profoundly: singing the Mass slows us down and lets us savor the words of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We went from routine & rote to reverent & rapt instantly. That single change made clear that those present were able to enter more deeply into the reality of the Mass itself—and isn’t that one of our highest callings as musicians?

—William J. Fritz