Including a hymn suitable for a Catholic wedding (“Nuptial Mass”).
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Anglican Ordinariate: “A Hymn For Saint Joseph”
With a digression on Cardinal Antonelli and the feast of “Saint Joseph the Artisan” (1 May).
Singing Bach At Mass? • “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
I wouldn’t argue if somebody made the claim that Sebastian Bach was “the most musical person who ever lived.”
A Note to Piano Teachers of Beginning Students
“What follows are a few tricks that have greatly aided students with me from a young age…” —Dr. Tappan
PDF Download • Simplified Accompaniment for the famous Hymn: “Praise To The Lord”
According to Monsignor Franz Stemmer, the famous hymn “Praise to the Lord” originally came from the 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘦𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘩 (1665).
“Reader Feedback” • 29 April 2024
“No musician in our parish (and probably our archdiocese) is paid, despite the many hours we put in.” —Charlotte M.
Update (25 April) • “Forthcoming Spanish Hymnal”
“When our people have the courage to break resolutely with a bad tradition, there are unworked mines of religious poetry in the old hymns that we can use in translations.” —Father Adrian Fortescue
Three Easter Hymns Sung Three Different Ways!
There was deep division in Chicago between those who cheered for the Cubs and those who cheered for the White Sox.
The Catholic Academy of Sacred Music (Kansas)
I can affirm that our first concert was a resounding success: everything from Allegri’s 𝑀𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑟𝑒 to the 10-year-old boy playing Bach.
Fundraiser Update From CCW President
“I’m a newly ordained priest. In seminary, we constantly used stuff from your website to help us learn things.” —College Station, Texas
¡Anuncio! • “Nuevo Himnario en Español”
Todavía no hemos escogido un título para nuestra colección.
Near “Occasions” of Sin, Forgiveness, Psalms, Hymns, and the Artistic Temperament
Rachmaninoff never forgave Prokofiev for this, as anyone with a melancholic temperament will understand.
Dr. Hamilton • “Totally Random (But Hopefully Not Useless) Thoughts About Choirs”
We must gauge rehearsal time so as not to totally bore the skilled members, while still making sure to do what’s needed to help lesser-skilled members.
PDF Download • “Wedding Sheet” (Showing Prices)
Being hired as organist or choirmaster for Catholic weddings can be stressful.
Announcement! • “New Spanish Hymnal”
We seek native speakers willing to help proofread.
PDF Download • Spanish Responsorial Psalm — “17th Sunday in Ordinary Time” (Year B)
We must never let criticism by ‘haters’ bother us. We must strive to block them from our minds.
PDF Download • “Freiburg Cathedral Hymnal” (Organ Accompaniment) — 308 Pages!
The most comprehensive German hymnal ever printed? Well, this masterpiece by Monsignor Stemmer is certainly in the top five!
Dr. Chapp Interviews Father Uwe Michael Lang
Posted on 11 April 2024: “Sacred Liturgy in the Thought of Joseph Ratzinger”
PDF Download • Responsorial Psalm for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
“This argument from silence is wildly improbable.” —Father John Parsons (2001)
Jeff Writes A Song About Dr. Weaver And Himself
This article—a “mini-dissertation” on syllabic plainsong—writes songs using the names of various CCW authors.
Summer Ward Method Courses • CUA 2024
Teaching Children the Fundamentals of Music
Exiguous Performing Forces?
Even something simple can be wonderful.
PDF Download • “Spanish Responsorial Psalm” (19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B)
A lovely offering by the “Chaumonot Composers Group.”
Confusion About This Responsorial Psalm
A serious typo in the Responsorial Psalm for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.
Jeff Ostrowski To Leave Los Angeles!
I believe Catholics have a right to attend Mass without being aurally assaulted.
PDF Downloads
Organ Accompaniment Booklet (20 pages)
This coming Sunday in the Extraordinary Form will be the Fifth Sunday after Easter. Each week, everyone can freely visit this page, downloading such booklets (as it were) directly from the source. Nevertheless, I’d like to draw your attention to the ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT BOOKLET (20 pages) for Vespers in the Extraordinary Form: Dominica V Post […]
“Banish Wrong Notes!” • Hymns Simplified
In the past, I’ve mentioned how I can’t stand hearing wrong notes. I was playing LLANFAIR the other day, and I was hitting wrong notes. Earlier today, I created a simplified version which you can download for free. This famous tune (“LLANFAIR”) is often used on the feast of the Ascension, with “Hail the Day […]
“Jesus Christ is Ris’n Today” (Simplified)
I hate hearing organists play wrong notes. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #699 in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal. The hymn is “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today.” I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was […]
PDF Download • “Jeff’s Most Popular Choral Arrangement For Easter” (By Far)
My volunteer choir sang this arrangement during the offertory on Easter Sunday.
“Saint Felix Creed” • Musical Setting for the Nicene Creed (Roman Missal, 3rd Edition)
Dedicated to my brother, Father Mark Ostrowski.
PDF Download • “Holy Week Music Schedule” • Saint Mary’s in Norwalk, Connecticut
Expect to hear Morales, Palestrina, Victoria, Pierre de la Rue, Tallis, Haydn, Gounod, Rovetta, Lassus, Byrd, Senfl, Taverner, Wingham, and more.