Views from the Choir Loft

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 22, 2025

Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?

Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952…

Guest Author · September 22, 2025

Installment #7 • Three (3) Questions Re: Forthcoming USA Lectionary

What is the specific criteria for this most recent tinkering?

Jeff Ostrowski · September 21, 2025

PDF Download • “Side-By-Side Comparison”

Re: the special hymn for the upcoming feast (9 November).

Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2025

PDF Download • Communion (25th Sn. Ord.)

This Communion antiphon glistens with resplendence!

Jeff Ostrowski · September 15, 2025

How do you pronounce this word in Latin?

Including a comparison chart (PDF) which many readers will appreciate.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 15, 2025

Cheap! Cheap! Cheap!

It’s always great to see old diocesan newspapers…

Andrea Leal · September 15, 2025

Children’s Repertoire: “3 Recommendations”

My top repertoire recommendations for easy, delightful, attainable songs.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 15, 2025

PDF Download • Dom Murray Harmonies

Along with so many others, I have deep respect for Dom Gregory Murray as a composer.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 14, 2025

“Music List” • 14 September (Holy Cross)

Readers have expressed interest in examining the “music list” I prepared for 14 September.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 9, 2025

“Novus Ordo Parish … With Polyphony?” • Is that possible? How specifically does that work?

Many have asked: “Without getting fired, how can choirmasters introduce polyphony to the Ordinary Form?”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 7, 2025

PDF Download • Croft’s “Canonic Kyrie” (SATB)

The conscientious choirmaster never rests from his relentless pursuit of repertoire ideas.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 6, 2025

“Music List” • 23rd in Ordinary Time (Year C)

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

Jeff Ostrowski · September 6, 2025

PDF Download • Draft Copy (Pamphlet)

Please feel free to chime in!

Jeff Ostrowski · September 5, 2025

“Entrance Chant” • 23rd (Ordinary Time)

The Communion Chant includes gorgeous verses in fauxbourdon.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 4, 2025

PDF Download • 3 September

If I can find time, there’s much I would love to say about this 1904 congress.

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)

I’d much rather hear an organist play a simplified version correctly than listen to wrong notes. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #729 in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal. The hymn is “O Jesus Christ, Remember.” I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 1,900 times in a matter of hours—so there seems to be interest in such a project. For the record, this famous text is often married to AURELIA, as it is in the Brébeuf Hymnal. The lyrics come from the pen of Father Edward Caswall (d. 1878), an Oratorian priest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase

Father Adrian Porter, using the cracher dans la soupe example, did a praiseworthy job explaining the difference between ‘dynamic’ and ‘formal’ translation. This is something Monsignor Ronald Knox explained time and again—yet even now certain parties feign ignorance. I suppose there will always be people who pretend the only ‘valid’ translation of Mitigásti omnem iram tuam; avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ… would be “You mitigated all ire of you; you have averted from your indignation’s ire.” Those who would defend such a translation suffer from an unfortunate malady. One of my professors called it “cognate on the brain.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (2025)

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. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—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