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Jeff Ostrowski · September 24, 2024

PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” in English (26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B)

Sometimes one hears the objection: “But Gregorian Chant was not originally accompanied on the organ…”

Veronica Moreno · September 17, 2024

PDF Download • “Communion Antiphon” by Father Edgard de Laet — For Any Mass!

A musical setting for “An Alphabet of Right-doing” (as Monsignor Knox famously called it).

Jeff Ostrowski · September 16, 2024

“Entrance Chant” • For Sunday (22-Sep-2024)

This one’s in Mode 4—and it imitates the authentic Gregorian chant in a magnificent way.

Richard J. Clark · September 13, 2024

PDF Download • “The Saint John’s Gradual”

Free download of Saint John’s Gradual with Ecclesiastical Approbation from his Eminence Cardinal Seán O’Malley, O. F. M., Cap., Archbishop of Boston

Jeff Ostrowski · September 12, 2024

Music List • (24th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in looking over the “music list” I have prepared for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 11, 2024

Musical Setting • “Confíteor Déo Omnipoténti”

The participants went nuts over this musical setting. They just couldn’t get enough of it!

Corpus Christi Watershed · September 11, 2024

Desperate Appeal • (11-Sep-2024)

On 11 September 2024, the president of CCWatershed released…

Jeff Ostrowski · September 10, 2024

PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Plainchant in English)

Today I discuss a myth about accompanying plainsong on the pipe organ.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 6, 2024

“Spanish Entrance Hymn” • (You Might Enjoy This)

Javier R. wrote to us: “One thing that caught my eye—and which I’ve been wrestling with—is how to fit Hymns with Antiphons, especially during the entrance procession.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 31, 2024

Musical Lineup • (22nd Sund. Ordinary Time)

Jeff’s musical lineup for Sunday, 1 September 2024.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 30, 2024

PDF • “Lamb of God” Harmonization

Harmonized—and carefully notated—in Spanish, English, and Latin.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 30, 2024

Leaked Document! • Comparison Chart—New Responsorial Psalms (“Abbey Psalms & Canticles”)

The NAB tried to use “overly casual” language—and the results are often an abomination.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 29, 2024

“3-Voice Arrangement” (SAB) • Psalm 26

Fabulous rehearsal videos have been created for you.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 28, 2024

PDF Download • Seasonal (“Ad Libitum”) Gospel Acclamations for Sundays and Weekdays

The various options given here by the official 1970 Missal can be used during the week (or on any Sunday).

Jeff Ostrowski · August 27, 2024

When Teaching a Polyphony for the First Time, Use This Three-Voice Piece

The Solfège has already been added, and we made magnificent rehearsal videos for you!

Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?

In 2003, I copied a book by Félix Bélédin (d. 1895), who was titular organist—from 1841 to 1874—at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Lyon (France). In 2008, we scanned and uploaded the book to the Lalande Online Library. Nobody knows for sure when the book was published; some believe it first appeared in the 1840s. In any event, one who examines this excerpt, showing GLORIA IX might wonder why it says the organ answers in plainsong. However, the front of the book explains, telling the organist explicitly when to “respond in plainchant.” This is something called organ alternatim. Believe it or not, the pipe organ would take turns with the choir, playing certain texts instrumentally instead of having them sung. I’m not very well-versed in this—pardon the pun—but if memory serves, ORGAN ALTERNATIM was frowned upon by the time of Pope Saint Pius X. Nevertheless, French organists kept doing it, even after it was explicitly condemned as an abuse.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Traditionally, this Sunday was called ‘Passion’ Sunday. Starting in 1956, certain church leaders attempted rename both ‘Passion’ Sunday and ‘Palm’ Sunday—but it didn’t work. For example, Monsignor Frederick McManus tried to get people to call PALM SUNDAY “Second Passion Sunday”—but the faithful rejected that. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.

—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