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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Dom Josef Pothier

Jeff Ostrowski · December 6, 2023

(Advent, 2nd Sunday) • Introit “Pópulus Sion” Sung According to the Official Rhythm

We can hardly do better than to join in the same melodies sung by Catholic saints throughout history.

Cynthia Ostrowski · September 11, 2023

Can a Lens Make a Difference?

My husband tells me this edition (by Dom Pothier’s student) is of monumental importance. I take him at his word.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 1, 2023

PDF Download • “Epitome Gradualis Romani” • Professionally Scanned — 1,106 pages!

Years ago, I struggled with being a “people pleaser.” (That means saying whatever will please the person standing in front of you.)

Jeff Ostrowski · December 13, 2022

Who Can Guess This Melody? • (Rorate Mass)

… from the “Roman Gradual” (1912) edited by Max Springer, a famous Gregorianist of the Beuron school.

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Matthew Frederes · December 12, 2022

Recent Book! • “The Politics of Plainchant”

Fascinating details from never-before-seen letters recently discovered in southern France!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 6, 2022

Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Jeff’s Second Response to Patrick” (6 Dec 2022)

You look upon these thousands of manuscripts in much the same way that I view the plainsong editions of Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers.

Matthew Frederes · November 10, 2022

Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Frederes Feedback”

Why declare that rhythmic signs are permitted if alteration of any kind is unacceptable? It doesn’t make any sense…

Jeff Ostrowski · August 23, 2022

PDF Download • Organ Accompaniment for Kyrie VIII (“Missa de Angelis”) by Jeff Ostrowski

I consider this my best organ accompaniment … I hope you like it!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 22, 2022

PDF Download • Professionally-Scanned “Graduale Romanum” (Schwann, 1908) • 1,129 pages!

This is the “pure” Vatican Edition—technically the only version of the rhythm allowed by Church documents!

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 6, 2022

“Chant Rhythm Wars” • Dueling Lectures!

Ostrowski Vs. Weaver: Solesmes Rhythm, Gregorian Semiology, Dom Mocquereau, Dom Pothier, Mensuralism, and more!

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 28, 2022

Photograph • Dom André Mocquereau (d. 1930)

Dom Mocquereau, prior to becoming a monk, was a soldier in the Franco-Prussian War.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 1, 2022

Gregorian Chant • “Its True & Authentic Rhythm”

For this coming Sunday (Passion Sunday), there’s only one “MMV” singers must observe—and I placed a little arrow above it.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 18, 2020

Dom Pothier • “To The Eyes And To The Ears”

For years, I couldn’t understand this business about “the eyes and the ears.” What did Pothier mean? Then it hit me. • Topics include Dom Joseph Pothier, the mora vocis, Abbot Pothier’s brother (Dom Alphonse Pothier), Dom Lucien David, Dom Paul Jausions, and a truly magnificent story about Pope Pius X and Abbot Pothier, which is essential reading+

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Funeral Music “Template” • For Families
    Many have requested the MUSICAL TEMPLATE for funerals we give to families at our parish. The family of the deceased is usually involved in selecting Number 12 on that sheet. This template was difficult to assemble, because the “Ordo Exsequiarum” has never been translated into English, and the assigned chants and hymns are given in different liturgical books (Lectionary, Gradual, Order of Christian Funerals, and so on). Please notify me if you spot errors or broken links. Readers will be particularly interested in some of the plainsong musical settings, which are truly haunting in their beauty.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “To Cover Sin With Smooth Names”
    Monsignor Ronald Knox created several English translations of the PSALTER at the request of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. Readers know that the third edition of the Saint Edmund Campion Missal uses a magnificent translation of the ROMAN CANON (and complete Ordo Missae) created in 1950 by Monsignor Knox. What’s interesting is that, when psalms are used as part of the Ordo Missae, he doesn’t simply copy and paste from his other translations. Consider the beautiful turn of phrase he adds to Psalm 140 (which the celebrant prays as he incenses crucifix, relics, and altar): “Lord, set a guard on my mouth, a barrier to fence in my lips, lest my heart turn to thoughts of evil, to cover sin with smooth names.” The 3rd edition of the CAMPION MISSAL is sleek; it fits easily in one’s hand. The print quality is beyond gorgeous. One must see it to believe it! You owe it to yourself—at a minimum—to examine these sample pages from the full-color section.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Heretical Hymns
    As a public service, perhaps a theologian ought to begin assembling a heretical hymns collection. A liturgical book—for funerals!—published by the Collegeville Press contains this monstrosity by someone named “Delores Dufner.” I can’t tell what the lyrics are trying to convey—can you? I detest ‘hymns’ with lines such the one she came up with: “Let the thirsty come and drink, Share My wine and bread.” Somehow, the publication was granted an IMPRIMATUR by Most Rev’d Jerome Hanus (bishop of Saint Cloud) on 16 August 1989. It’s a nice tune, but paired with a nasty text!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Reminder” — Month of Febr. (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). 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
    PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”
    I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)
    I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The Pope is not an absolute monarch whose thoughts and desires are law. On the contrary: the Pope’s ministry is a guarantee of obedience to Christ and to his Word. He must not proclaim his own ideas, but rather constantly bind himself and the Church to obedience to God’s Word, in the face of every attempt to adapt it or water it down, and every form of opportunism.”

— ‘His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI (11 May 2005)’

Recent Posts

  • “Pipe Organ Interlude During Funerals?” • (Reader Feedback)
  • Funeral Music “Template” • For Families
  • “To Cover Sin With Smooth Names”
  • Heretical Hymns
  • Alphabetizing Hymn Titles Inside Hymnals • “Does This Make Any Sense?”

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