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Views from the Choir Loft

Common Hymn Melodies

Corrinne May · November 19, 2024

“Imagine You’re Out of Rehearsal Time but Desperately Need a Hymn for Advent…”

“I had such fun recording the vocals for these rehearsal videos.” —Corrinne May

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Jeff Ostrowski · April 7, 2024

Exiguous Performing Forces?

Even something simple can be wonderful.

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Jeff Ostrowski · March 12, 2024

PDF Download • Lenten Hymn + SATB Refrain

Professor Bouyer later admitted (in his memoirs) that his team of liturgical reformers had been doomed from the start, since their goal was “recasting from top to bottom—𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴!—an entire liturgy which had required twenty centuries to develop.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 23, 2024

Response to Mike’s Letter • “Six Concrete Examples”

“I would dismiss it as the second text writer being lazy and stealing someone else’s music…” —Michael H.

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Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · December 12, 2023

PDF Download • “Münster Hymnal” (Harmony Edition) — 123 pages!

“As the organ plays, so does the congregation sing!” —From the Foreword

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Jeff Ostrowski · November 12, 2023

(14 Examples) • Jeff Ostrowski’s Artistic “Credo”

Including several hymns eminently suitable for the feast of Christ the King.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 19, 2023

(Quiz) • “How Well Do You Know Your Hymns?”

Including a tip on preventing choirs from ‘sinking’ the pitch lower and lower.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 14, 2023

Natália Explains: “Why You Should Care About Shared Melodies.”

Everything’s going great, until you start playing…

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 13, 2023

Eucharistic Hymn by the Archbishop of Canterbury

Using a favorite melody of Dr. Theodore Marier.

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 17, 2023

Why Did You Become a Church Musician?

Including two (2) haunting and powerful Eucharistic hymns.

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 30, 2023

Nine (9) Ways to Save Catholic Church Music

If music sung at Church resembles a toothpaste commercial, a Broadway show, or a campfire song—does it really belong at Mass?

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 25, 2023

Splendid Repertoire for (Reduced) Summer Choirs!

Here’s a technique you must try with your choir.

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 18, 2023

Rude Priests, Rude Deacons, Rude Ushers, Rude Parishioners, Rude Choristers, Etc.

Unless I’m mistaken, this charming piece can be played on organ manuals alone.

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Jeff Ostrowski · July 5, 2023

“A Patriotic Hymnal” • (Not Kidding!)

“Hymns for the Use of the Catholic Church in America” was published in Baltimore more than 200 years ago.

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 6, 2023

“Best & Worst Responses” • This Survey Was Responded To By 300+ Church Musicians

You’re probably thinking: “Jeff, if you think Father Rossini’s narrow-mindedness was bad, get ready for a rude awakening when you see what we’re up against in 2023.”

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Insane Baroque-Era Dissonance!
    The sumptuous melody called “JESU LEIDEN PEIN UND TOD” appears no fewer than three times in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal and is harmonized with standard Common Practice Era SATB voice leading and harmonies (which is only natural). However, one who takes the time to examine what Sebastian Bach did with that tune will encounter an incredibly dissonant sound. As far as I’m concerned, there is no more dissonant sound—in the entire Baroque era—than what I highlighted in yellow on that excerpt. Please let me know if you disagree.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of July (2026)
    On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). Since we were founded in 2006, not one of our board members has ever accepted any remuneration whatsoever—not a penny. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (15th Sund. Ordinary Time)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A), which is 12 July 2026. Please feel free to download it as a PDF file if that appeals to you. The hymns chosen are some of the most ‘traditional’ I have chosen (and were chosen by our pastor). The ENTRANCE CHANT radiates pure bliss, overflowing with joy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    ‘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
    “Reader Feedback” • 22 June 2026
    A reader wrote to us from Virginia: “I really appreciate the 23 harmonizations that you posted on CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED for the Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary hymn. I hope to find willing voices in our small Schola Cantorum to try the three-voice version. Carry on, sir! You’re doing the Lord’s work.” While we don’t know this gentleman personally, we note that he earned a Ph.D. (which demonstrates that our blog has something for everybody). 😊
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Time and Again We Are Asked…
    John Baptist Singenberger (d. 1924) was a central figure of Catholic Church music. In this utterly fascinating excerpt (Single-Page PDF), Singenberger writes: Time and again we are asked: “Is the Gregorian chant to be accompanied by the organ?” As a young student in Saint Gall, Singenberger befriended SEBASTIAN GEBHARD MESSMER, the future Archbishop of Milwaukee (Wisconsin). The two graduated together in 1861. The school they attended (Saint George’s Seminary) was a “seminary”—but in the older European sense. In other words, it provided a classical education without necessarily leading to ordination. Singenberger remained a layman his whole life, but Messmer was eventually made archbishop—by Pope Saint Pius X—of the very archdiocese in Wisconsin where Singenberger would spend his American career, giving him a powerful ecclesiastical ally.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“I have devoted myself too much, I think, to Bach, to Mozart and to Liszt. I wish now that I could emancipate myself from them. Schumann is no use to me any more, Beethoven only with an effort and strict selection. Chopin has attracted and repelled me all my life; and I have heard his music too often—prostituted, profaned, vulgarized … I do not know what to choose for a new repertory!”

— Ferruccio Busoni (to a colleague in 1922, when he was 56 years old)

Recent Posts

  • Insane Baroque-Era Dissonance!
  • Explanation of Gregorian Chant • “Using Words Mama Can Understand”
  • “Reminder” — Month of July (2026)
  • “Reader Feedback” • 9 July 2026
  • PDF Downloads • “16 Gorgeous SAB Motets”

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