Views from the Choir Loft

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 12, 2016

PDF Download • Spanish Cathedral Music (1961)

“On Holy Saturday in 1545, while the pope and several cardinals were present, two of the oldest choir members flew at each other during the blessing of the new oils…”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 7, 2016

PDF Download • “New Westminster Hymnal” (1939)

Can Watershed survive? (Part 4)

Jeff Ostrowski · March 2, 2016

PDF Download • “Woodward Hymnal” (1913) … Outrageously Rare!

Can Watershed survive? (Part 2)

Jeff Ostrowski · February 22, 2016

PDF Download • “Latin in the New Liturgy” (1976)

“The use of Latin in celebrating the new Mass Rite will be encouraged as it has been in the old; Latin expresses the nature of the Church as international and timeless.”

Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2016

PDF Download • Simple Pieces For Roman Catholic Church Choirs (345 Pages)

First published in 1901 by Emile Dethier, organist at the Grand Seminary in Liège, Belgium.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 1, 2016

PDF Download • New Composition By Kevin Allen

This SATB setting of “Jesu Dulcis Memoria” will help you start 2016 on the right foot!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 16, 2015

“Veni Veni Emmanuel” • Original Setting (Two Voices)

This famous Advent hymn was not written in the 1800s—it goes back at least to the 15th century.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 19, 2015

PDF Download • Hymnal by Fr. John Selner (1954)

Some of the old Catholic hymnals were dreadful, but this one is splendid.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 18, 2015

PDF Download • “Liber Brevior” (1954)

This special Solesmes book contains another version of the “Chants Abrégés.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 26, 2015

PDF Download • “Story of Redemption” for Children (1952) • With Audio Recordings!

“I’m sure you’ll enjoy the beautiful poems, songs, and pictures…” —Very Rev. Norbert M. Shumaker

Jeff Ostrowski · October 21, 2015

PDF Download • “Christ The King Hymnal” (1955)

An extremely rare Canadian hymnal produced by Rev. Aloysius Knauff.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 28, 2015

PDF Download • Extremely Rare Hymnal (1952)

Published by the Catholic Choirmasters’ Guild of Buffalo, New York.

Guest Author · September 9, 2015

PDF Download • SAB Setting of “Jesu Rex Admirabilis”

Including an update on wonderful things happening for Sacred Music in Colorado!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 29, 2015

The Ordinary Form’s Incredible Freedom

Here’s a chart with rubrics from the 1974 “Graduale” translated into English.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 26, 2015

PDF Download • Rossini’s “Canticum Novum” (1935)

A Collection of 115 Motets and Hymns, with an Easy Mass for Two Equal Voices.

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). 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 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed