Views from the Choir Loft

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Hymn Harmony: Fifty Examples—Good and Bad!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 9, 2019

We will not be considering musically absurd examples from the past.

Fr. Finn and the Catholic Choral Tradition in America

Dr. Lucas Tappan · June 18, 2019

Nevertheless, we have had, and quite frankly still have, a number of fine choirs, conductors and organists that I would place on par and even above our European brethren.

What Makes A “Catholic” Hymnal?

Jeff Ostrowski · May 29, 2019

I find the following pairings reprehensible…

“Common” Hymn Melodies • What are they?

Jeff Ostrowski · May 6, 2019

Choirmasters and organists understand how crucial flexibility is.

Musical Program for Covid-19

Jeff Ostrowski · April 12, 2019

Saint Vitus • MATT GONZALEZ WEDDING • Saturday, 1 August 2020…bride walks at Noon! ——Call time for singers is 10:00am ENTRANCE Organist will play INTROIT • “Deus Israël conjungat” Sung by Men from Goupil-Chant Search the René Goupil website for “pro sponsis” KYRIE #81668 — Palestrina “Fons Bonitatis” part 1 #81249 — Palestrina “Fons Bonitatis” […]

The Cantor and Congregational Singing

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 12, 2019

I wonder if we haven’t lost sight of the cantor’s original purpose of fostering congregational singing…

When Hymn Names Don’t Match

Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2019

I submit to you that calling the same tune by multiple names in the same hymnal is unacceptable.

PDF Booklet • Christmas Midnight Mass (36 pages)

Jeff Ostrowski · December 22, 2018

It looks so simple when placed in a booklet like that…

The Most Popular Hymn Tunes? • A List

Jeff Ostrowski · December 18, 2018

I could not have been more thrilled to see this list—those are exactly the tunes I love!

“Source Material” • The Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal

Jeff Ostrowski · October 30, 2018

We assembled a staggering number of Catholic hymnals and selected only the very best material from each.

A Refresher on Chorister Training

Dr. Lucas Tappan · October 30, 2018

There are three areas that are especially helpful to be competent in when working with children.

Ronald Knox • His Actual Voice!

Jeff Ostrowski · September 18, 2018

A fascinating radio address by Msgr. Knox covering topics related to the Incarnation.

PDF • Scottish Catholic Hymnal (453 Pages)

Jeff Ostrowski · August 27, 2018

“Authorized by the archbishops and bishops of Scotland for use in the Scottish dioceses.”

“Arundel Catholic Hymns” • Hymns Chosen and Edited by the Duke of Norfolk

Jeff Ostrowski · July 23, 2018

“To the man of cultivated taste, they are displeasing—and in some cases even offensive…”

Hereford Cathedral Choir to Sing at the Vatican

Andrew Leung · May 10, 2018

The Hereford Cathedral Choir has been invited to sing Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

“Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music Director Job • $80,000 per year

Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Pius XII Hymnal?

Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Hybrid” Chant Notation?

Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed