keyboard harmonization Spanish Ordinary

Jeff Ostrowski · October 15, 2026

Ordinary of the Mass (Spanish Settings) for Organ + Congregation • “We’ve Had Success With These”

A priest writes: “I’m wondering if you can help me with any suggestions for music for the ordinary of Mass in Spanish.”

“Holy, Holy, Holy” transposed lower

A simple setting based on a work by Canon Jules Vyverman.

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—Jeff Ostrowski

Music List • (27th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday: 4 October 2026

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—Jeff Ostrowski

A Mystery! — Re: the “Liber Usualis”

When it comes to the Latin language, accent marks aren’t placed on 2-syllable words, because doing so would be excessive. In other words, if a Latin word has two (2) syllables, the first syllable always gets the accent—so there’s no need to mark it. Nevertheless, as the years went on, the ABBEY OF SOLESMES began placing accents on 2-syllable words throughout their publications. Yet, they made exceptions for certain words, and nobody can explain why. For example, they never put an accent on the word simul in Latin, as far as I can tell. Download this PDF file if you wish to see with your own eyes. It seems they omit the accent mark about 20% of the time, which eliminates the possibility of oversight.

—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

keyboard harmonization Spanish Ordinary

Ordinary of the Mass (Spanish Settings) for Organ + Congregation • “We’ve Had Success With These”

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