Augustus Edmonds Tozer

Jeff Ostrowski · January 19, 2021

PDF Download • “Mass Propers For Sundays And Holydays Set To Simple Melodies” (429 pages)

In 1947, this book was given a double “Imprimatur” by Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 17, 2014

PDF Download: “Propers” by A. Edmonds Tozer and “Propers” by Father Theodore Labouré

“The law of the Church plainly declares that, whenever High Mass is celebrated, the Proper of the Mass must be sung or at least recited.” — Fr. Labouré (1922)

16 November 2021 • So Valuable!

If people only knew about this this website, they would be amazed. It is called the “snippets” index, and I could not live without it. We’ve tried everything we can think of to let people know about it—and we’ll keep trying—but even some of our most faithful readers don’t realize that hidden treasure!

—Jeff Ostrowski

11 November 2021 • “Iste Confessor” Hymn

The brief little SATB piece, O Pater Sancte (PDF), has been requested by many. The full title is O Pater Sancte, Mitis Atque Pie (“Father most holy, gracious and forgiving”). The melody occurs many times in the The Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal—including on page 724 with a fabulous translation by Monsignor Knox. The tune is called “Iste Confessor,” and you can learn more here.

Harmonies are © Brébeuf Hymnal (2018)

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Hymnals Compared” • with PDF files!

Mr. Daniel Craig, an accountant, comes from a musical family. His sister is a nun, and his brother is currently a seminarian. He has put together a detailed comparison of fifteen traditional Catholic hymnals. Many PDF files are included. Click here to view the article.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“The following few hints on the selection of voices may be useful: (1) Reject all boys who speak roughly, or sing coarsely; (2) Choose bright, intelligent-looking boys, provided they have a good ear; they will much more readily respond to the choirmaster’s efforts than boys who possess a voice and nothing more; therefore, (3) Reject dull, sulky, or scatter-brained boys, since it is hard to say which of the three has the most demoralizing effect on his more willing companions.”

— Sir Richard Runciman Terry (1912)