Views from the Choir Loft

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 3, 2026

“To Cover Sin With Smooth Names”

You owe it to yourself to examine the sample pages (from the full-color section).

Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2026

Heretical Hymns

A nice tune, but a nasty text!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 29, 2026

Dom Pothier • Photo from 1904

This is quite a beautiful image.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 29, 2026

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

Whence this lack of curiosity?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2026

PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)

Motet is defined as: “a short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied.”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2026

PDF Download • “Hymn for 2 Voices”

If your choir is very small, this piece is for you!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 26, 2026

PDF Download • “Pange Lingua” for Three Voices (Father Edgard De Laet)

For very small choirs, this arrangement can be sung with one male and two females.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 20, 2026

Music List • (3rd Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 20, 2026

PDF Download • “Tantum Ergo” for 3 Voices (Kevin Allen) Paired with a Hymn for 2 Voices

The children’s choir I direct loves singing Kevin Allen’s music … as does our adult choir!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 19, 2026

“Holy Name Hymn” (2-Voice Arrangement)

This 2-voice arrangement is free to all.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 19, 2026

PDF Download • Introit (3rd Sn. Ord.)

This coming Sunday—25 January 2026—is the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A).

Corpus Christi Watershed · January 17, 2026

“Information Requested About Hymnals”

The following message was sent to us by a reader…

Jeff Ostrowski · January 17, 2026

“Lamb of God” (Musical Setting)

This makes it possible to adjust based upon who’s singing (at which time of day).

Jeff Ostrowski · January 14, 2026

PDF Download • Introit (2nd Sn. Ord.)

This mode is ‘serious’ or ‘dark’ or ‘haunting’—but gorgeous.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 13, 2026

PDF • “Dr. Adrian Fortescue: Priest & Musician”

“No one was ever (outwardly) less priestly; no one was ever (inwardly) more thoroughly a priest.” —Edith Cowell

“To Cover Sin With Smooth Names”

Monsignor Ronald Knox created several English translations of the PSALTER at the request of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. Readers know that the third edition of the Saint Edmund Campion Missal uses a magnificent translation of the ROMAN CANON (and complete Ordo Missae) created in 1950 by Monsignor Knox. What’s interesting is that, when psalms are used as part of the Ordo Missae, he doesn’t simply copy and paste from his other translations. Consider the beautiful turn of phrase he adds to Psalm 140 (which the celebrant prays as he incenses crucifix, relics, and altar): “Lord, set a guard on my mouth, a barrier to fence in my lips, lest my heart turn to thoughts of evil, to cover sin with smooth names.” The 3rd edition of the CAMPION MISSAL is sleek; it fits easily in one’s hand. The print quality is beyond gorgeous. One must see it to believe it! You owe it to yourself—at a minimum—to examine these sample pages from the full-color section.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Heretical Hymns

As a public service, perhaps a theologian ought to begin assembling a heretical hymns collection. A liturgical book—for funerals!—published by the Collegeville Press contains this monstrosity by someone named “Delores Dufner.” I can’t tell what the lyrics are trying to convey—can you? I detest ‘hymns’ with lines such the one she came up with: “Let the thirsty come and drink, Share My wine and bread.” Somehow, the publication was granted an IMPRIMATUR by Most Rev’d Jerome Hanus (bishop of Saint Cloud) on 16 August 1989. It’s a nice tune, but paired with a nasty text!

—Jeff Ostrowski

💲 5.00 💵

Our tiny 501(c)3 nonprofit organization exists solely by generous readers who donate $5.00 per month. We have no endowment; we have no major donors; we run no advertisements; we have no savings. A donor wrote to us: “I so appreciate all you do and have done, and your generosity is unprecedented. I am honored to be able to make a monthly contribution.” Another monthly donor says: “Thank you for everything CC Watershed does. We are able to add so much solemnity to Holy Mass due to the resources made available here.” Can you spare a few dollars each month to help us survive?

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Reminder” — Month of Febr. (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski