Views from the Choir Loft

Justine Bayard Ward Method of Singing

Christopher Mueller · January 4, 2024

Mueller’s Artistic Credo • “Same But Different”

“Variety within a single Mass is important for engaging the listening ears (and singing voices) of the congregation.” —Chris Mueller

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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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Fr. David Friel · March 20, 2023

Summer Ward Method Courses • CUA 2023

The Ward Method is a classical pedagogy designed for pre-K through eighth grade music classes in Catholic schools.

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Fr. David Friel · May 17, 2022

Summer Ward Method Courses • CUA 2022

Study the Ward Method this summer in Washington, DC.

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Fr. David Friel · May 2, 2021

Summer Course in the Ward Method

CUA is pleased to announce that this week-long intensive course will be offered in person this summer.

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Fr. David Friel · July 27, 2014

Is Recorded Music Okay for Children?

There is a prevalent notion that young people somehow need to be accommodated in the work of divine worship. As a former child, I find this to be an errant hankering.

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Jeff Ostrowski · April 1, 2014

Courses In The Ward Method … This Summer!

This summer, the Catholic University of America is offering training in the Ward method.

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A Popular “Gloria” … in Dutch?

Close to 16 years ago, I composed a “Glory to God in the Highest” in honor of SAINT RALPH SHERWIN. It was subsequently sung all over the world, and included in various collections (under different titles). You can download the musical score in plainsong notation. It was selected for inclusion in the Saint Isaac Jogues Illuminated Missal, Gradual, and Lectionary—and here’s its keyboard accompaniment (PDF file). I have a terrible memory, but somebody reminded me it was translated into Dutch (!) in 2012. I have no idea who did this—but you can download the score by clicking here. Because I don’t speak Dutch, I have no idea whether the adaptation was done skillfully.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (26th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday: 27 September 2026.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of September (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

Preface of Saint Joseph (added by the pope)

You can see the “Præfatio de Sancto Joseph” inserted directly into the priest’s missal.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

“Predictable Rhymes?” • A Follow Up

We received considerable correspondence regarding my article, Two Ways to Defile a Hymn. More specifically, what really raised certain people’s hackles was its follow-up article dealing with the keyboard accompaniment for the CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL. But to quote Eliza Doolittle: “Have I said anything I oughtn’t?” Please examine this PDF file and see whether you agree. Were the editors of the BRÉBEUF HYMNAL incorrect to insist upon sophisticated and clever rhymes, rather than mind-numbingly predictable rhymes?

—Jeff Ostrowski

‘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

“Thus, by the celebration of a single Mass (in which he offers Jesus Christ in sacrifice), a priest gives greater honor to the Lord than if all men by dying for God offered to him the sacrifice of their lives. By a single Mass, he gives greater honor to God than all the angels and saints—along with the Blessed Virgin Mary—have given or shall give to him; for their worship cannot be of infinite value, like that which the priest celebrating on the altar offers to God.”

— Saint Alphonsus Liguori