Views from the Choir Loft

Hymns Replacing Propers

Jeff Ostrowski · February 17, 2025

PDF Download • Common Texts for the Gospel Acclamation (“Alleluia”)

For many years, this situation embarrassed me.

Fr. David Friel · March 31, 2019

Sacred Music US • Website for Fr. Weber’s Resources

A website exists to disseminate Fr. Samuel Weber’s sacred music resources

Fr. David Friel · May 14, 2017

Podcast on Sacred Music

An interview with the blog, “Seminarian Casual”

Fr. David Friel · March 19, 2017

What to Do with the “Fourth Option”

A new Adoremus article explores how best to overthrow the tyranny of “alius cantus congruus.”

Fr. David Friel · October 2, 2016

New Collection of Propers from GIA

The growing market for Mass propers is a sign of promise.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 29, 2016

Why Did Vatican II Happen?

These might not constitute the most perfect way to assist at Mass, but they’re very nice (German) hymn tunes!

Fr. David Friel · September 25, 2016

Turning Off the Air Conditioning

Taking Advantage of the Natural Beauty that Surrounds Us

Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2016

Catastrophic Results of USCCB “Interpretation”

“Peace, peace, peace on earth; peace to God’s people, all people on earth.”

Fr. David Friel · September 11, 2016

Composition Contest

Submissions Sought by the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians

Fr. David Friel · August 7, 2016

A Different Kind of World Youth Day

Sacred Music Helped to Transform Tauron Arena Kraków into a House of Prayer

Jeff Ostrowski · August 1, 2016

Does Your Bishop Enforce The GIRM?

They will assume—and why shouldn’t they?—that “approved by the USCCB” applies to the hymns and songs…

Fr. David Friel · April 24, 2016

Instruction on Sacred Music by Bishop John Doerfler

Introducing a Five-Year Plan for the Future of Sacred Music in the Diocese of Marquette

Jeff Ostrowski · April 18, 2016

“No Time For Cowardice” • A Letter To Liturgy Columnists

Too many columnists focus endlessly on minutiae while leaving untouched a crucial issue.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2016

A Church Music Issue Nobody Will Touch

Numerous articles have been written about Cardinal Sarah’s “foot washing” communique.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 16, 2016

Something That Would Fix So Much … But Nobody Mentions It

Is this “tacit” approval really “imaginary” approval?

“Music List” • 21st in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir returns on Sunday, 24 August 2025. Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for it, which is the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • 21st Sunday Ordin. Time

You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) which is coming up on 24 August 2025. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. It’s set in a melancholy mode, but if you heard my choir’s female voices singing it your soul would be uplifted beyond belief. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I tried to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • 19th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10 August 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the feasts website.

—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