Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

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 ?

Fr. David Friel · March 15, 2012

St. Joseph Triduum — Installment No. 1

Part 1 of 3: Joseph of Egypt

Jeff Ostrowski · March 13, 2012

Mass Propers: Confusion Resolved

A brief summary: What are the Mass Propers?

Fr. David Friel · March 9, 2012

The Artist

A Monumental Mission

Music List • (Easter Sunday, 2026)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Easter Sunday—a.k.a. “Ad Missam in die Paschae”—which is 5 April 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if such a thing interests you. The Fauxbourdon for Communion is particularly moving.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”

Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Sarum’ Good Friday?

Plainsong of the Roman Rite has many variants—i.e. slight ‘variations’ or ‘alterations’ made to the ancient melodies. Variants often thrive in particular religious orders. Likewise, before Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, Gregorian Chant variants were frequently associated with individual cathedrals in England: Hereford, Lincoln, Salisbury, and so forth. In the early 20th century, the (Anglican) organist at Westminster Abbey married “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” to this beautiful variant melody from England. Those who sing Gregorian Chant on Good Friday will recognize the melody. What do you think of this pairing?

—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

PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”

For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.

—Jeff Ostrowski