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Views from the Choir Loft

President's Corner

Jeff Ostrowski · November 10, 2026

“Reprehensible Rhymes” • (1955 Hymnal)

It really does seem as though this gentleman was only considered an ‘expert’ in Roman Catholic hymnody when compared to others…

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2026

PDF Download • “Singers’ Booklet”

The Communion antiphon this week is the powerful “Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · October 29, 2026

Feast of All Saints (Nov. 1st)

The formatting of this booklet is ‘messy’—but it’s only ever seen by the singers (not the congregation).

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Jeff Ostrowski · October 29, 2026

Twenty-Two (22) English Translations

Discover all 22 English translations of “Creátor Alme Síderum.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 23, 2026

Stained Glass Window • Father Brébeuf

Father De Brébeuf was one of the North American Martyrs. He was canonized by Pope Pius XI on 29 June 1930.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 22, 2026

Sacred Music “Pro Tip”

Millions visit our website, yet many miss the one page where the real treasures are found.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 17, 2026

Music List • (29th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday: 18 October 2026

Jeff Ostrowski · October 2, 2026

“Holy, Holy, Holy” transposed lower

A simple setting based on a work by Canon Jules Vyverman.

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Jeff Ostrowski · October 1, 2026

Music List • (27th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday: 4 October 2026

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Jeff Ostrowski · October 1, 2026

A Mystery! — Re: the “Liber Usualis”

Even after all these years, nobody has been able to explain this.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 29, 2026

A Popular “Gloria” … in Dutch?

I see this melody was translated into Dutch back in 2012…

Jeff Ostrowski · September 25, 2026

Music List • (26th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday: 27 September 2026.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 14, 2026

“Reminder” — Month of September (2026)

Since a new month has arrived, it’s my pleasure to remind you that…

Jeff Ostrowski · August 31, 2026

PDF Download • “Cordero de Dios”

An unfussy “Cordero de Dios”—easy on the voice, easy on the organist, and supplied with plainsong notation ready to drop into your Order of Worship.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 28, 2026

“Be Joyful Mary” • Organ Interlude

Peter Piel (1835–1904), was a Roman Catholic composer named “Royal Music Director” under Wilhelm I, King of Prussia.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Reprehensible Rhymes” • (1955 Hymnal)
    Joseph Vincent Higginson (d. 1994) was considered an expert on Roman Catholic hymnody. In 1955, he released his masterpiece: the “MEDIATOR DEI HYMNAL: For Unison Choirs and Congregations” (with an Imprimatur dated 22 August 1955). If you click on this image, you’ll see rhymes both reprehensible and ghastly. In the past, I have had occasion to document unfortunate and puzzling aspects of Higginson’s tome, such as the fact that almost every hymn is truncated to just 2-3 verses. {By the time members of the congregation manage to find the right page, the hymn will already be over!} It is not my intention to relitigate deficiencies in the MEDIATOR DEI HYMNAL. I would only point out that any English-speaking poet worth his salt would cut off his right arm before using the same rhyme twice.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Singers’ Booklet”
    This coming Sunday—8 November 2026—is the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). Several folks requested that I share online the SINGERS’ BOOKLET (24 Pages). I added in the booklet a piece we haven’t yet conquered, but intend to. The formatting of this booklet is ‘messy’—but it’s only ever seen by the singers (not the congregation). The COMMUNION ANTIPHON this week is the powerful “Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Feast of All Saints (Nov. 1st)
    This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of All Saints (1 November 2026). Several folks requested that I share online the SINGERS’ BOOKLET (22 Pages). You’ll notice that the gorgeous OFFERTORY CHANT was placed out of order; that was done in an effort to save paper. I also included a piece that we’re currently in the process of learning.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Preface of Saint Joseph (added by the pope)

    You can see the “Præfatio de Sancto Joseph” inserted directly into the priest’s missal.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Predictable Rhymes?” • A Follow Up
    We received considerable correspondence regarding my article, Two Ways to Defile a Hymn. More specifically, what really raised certain people’s hackles was its follow-up article dealing with the keyboard accompaniment for the CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL. But to quote Eliza Doolittle: “Have I said anything I oughtn’t?” Please examine this PDF file and see whether you agree. Were the editors of the BRÉBEUF HYMNAL incorrect to insist upon sophisticated and clever rhymes, rather than mind-numbingly predictable rhymes?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘Ould’ But Not Good
    Dom Samuel Gregory Ould (note the spelling) was a Benedictine monk at FORT AUGUSTUS ABBEY in Scotland. As musician, organist, and composer, Dom Ould was highly regarded. Moreover, he was considered an authority on Gregorian Chant. But not everything found in an old book—or, in this case, an “Ould” book—is necessarily praiseworthy. Consider this page from Dom Ould’s hymnal. Do you see the rhymes? They offend severely by ABR (“Abuse By Reuse”) and are utterly predictable. In my recent article—Two Ways to Defile a Hymn—I addressed this topic.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“It would be difficult to find a failure of imagination greater than that of Carl Czerny.”

— Robert Schumann

Recent Posts

  • “Reprehensible Rhymes” • (1955 Hymnal)
  • 70% Moonshine? • Jeff Responds to a Dissertation-Length Article on Gregorian Chant
  • Hymn: “Lux Alma Jesu Méntium” • 16 English Translations by Priests, Cardinals, & Bishops
  • PDF Download • “Singers’ Booklet”
  • “Rare Photograph” • Dom Anthony Gregory Murray

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