Views from the Choir Loft

Gregorio

Veronica Brandt · September 17, 2022

Adding More Spaces around Bar Lines in Gregorio

Some useful tips on adjusting the spacing in Gregorio scores.

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Keven Smith · August 31, 2020

(Installment #3) “Catholic Hymnals” • Keven Smith

Top 10 Features • “An Ideal Extraordinary Form Hymnal”

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Veronica Brandt · January 6, 2018

Tweaking Linebreaks Online with Gregorio

You CAN add linebreaks with Illuminare Score Editor. All in the browser.

Veronica Brandt · December 30, 2017

GABC Propers Tool Revisited

A major shortcut to preparing Gregorian chant propers and ordinaries.

Veronica Brandt · May 28, 2016

Planning a Corpus Christi Procession

Last minute preparations for a Corpus Christi Procession.

Veronica Brandt · June 6, 2015

A hymnal in e-book format

100 pieces of Gregorian chant to carry around in your pocket, with English translations.

Veronica Brandt · May 2, 2015

Taking the easy way out, relatively speaking

Starting a collection of easier propers for the Extraordinary Form. A pair of Alleluias and two Offertory antiphons to start the ball rolling.

Veronica Brandt · February 14, 2015

The modern armchair chant scribes

A great source of chant snippets for your booklets as well as a way to make the internet a better place.

Veronica Brandt · August 24, 2013

What not to do on GitHub

Read my mistakes to save yourself the trouble.

Veronica Brandt · July 13, 2013

What’s new with the age old chant?

Gregorio has a wiki and ideas on typing up semiology.

Veronica Brandt · June 16, 2013

Try Illuminare Score Editor

Yet another training video, this time simpler than ever.

Veronica Brandt · June 10, 2013

Setting propers to psalm tones with gregorio

Another training video showing another easy way to use gregorio online – this time while holding a 4 month old baby girl!

Veronica Brandt · June 8, 2013

GABC Transcription Tools

Computers making life easier for once. No, really!

Veronica Brandt · June 1, 2013

As easy as (G)ABC

Including newly typeset Gregorian chant in your booklets has never been easier.

PDF • “Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 21 December 2025, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is the famous “Roráte Coeli” and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec.)

The Responsorial Psalm may be downloaded as a PDF file (organist & vocalist) for 12 December, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When it comes to the formulary for this Mass, it’s astounding how infrequently it’s included in official books. Prior to Vatican II, one had to search through “supplemental material” printed in the back of hand-missals and graduals. But since 1970, the feast is virtually nonexistent. According to the UNIVERSAL KALENDAR, 12 December is the “Feast of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious” (Die 12 decembris: S. Ioannæ Franciscæ de Chantal, religiosæ). Why should that feast overpower Our Lady of Guadalupe? In the United States, OLG is celebrated—and I’d assume in Mexico, Central America, South America, and Canada—but, as I said, the Propria Missae are virtually impossible to locate. I possess only three books which mention this feast.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Accompaniment (Advent Hymn)

Many organists are forced to simultaneously serve as both CANTOR and ACCOMPANIST. In spite of what some claim, this can be difficult. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment (PDF) which in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal is hymn #661: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” (for ADVENT). I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 2,900 times in a matter of hours—so there appears to be interest.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Santo Santo Santo”

Those searching for a dignified, brief, simple, bright setting of SANCTUS in Spanish (“Santo Santo Santo”) are invited to download this Setting in honor of Saint John Brébeuf (organist & vocalist). I wonder if there would be any interest in me recording a rehearsal video for this piece.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Pope Leo XIV on Sacred Music

On 5 December 2025, Pope Leo XIV made this declaration with regard to liturgical music.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed