Views from the Choir Loft

Lemmensinstituut

Veronica Moreno · October 29, 2025

PDF Download • Christmas Piece (SATB) — “Angels We Have Heard on High” with Text in Latin

“Although it’s not a lengthy piece, it uses techniques which singers love: canon, pedal tones, memorable tunes, etc.” —Veronica Moreno

Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2025

PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

I would argue we must renew our good resolution and stand firm.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 9, 2023

PDF Download • Belgian “Ordinary of the Mass” (Organ Accompaniment) — 191 pages

This volume has been professionally scanned—and you’ll love the results!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 16, 2023

Desperate! • Needing help after robbery

A few years ago, I had valuable books stolen. Recovery efforts with law enforcement have failed, so I’m reaching out to our readers. Can somebody help me obtain VOLUME II and VOLUME VIII of the Nova organi harmonia published in the 1940s and 1950s by the LEMMENSINSTITUUT? As far as I can tell, these volumes can’t […]

Jeff Ostrowski · December 3, 2022

PDF Download • Organ Accompaniment Booklet: Vespers (2nd Sunday of Advent) — 27 pages

Dom Gajard said to Jean Langlais: “Hear the blackbird! It doesn’t know what an ‘ictus’ is, yet it sings better than we.”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 2, 2022

PDF Download • “Latin Christmas Carol” for SATB + Organ • By Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965)

I’m not embarrassed, because these practice videos save us time during rehearsals.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 13, 2022

PDF Download • “Gregorian Accompaniments” … Just in time for Advent! (366 pages)

The second half of today’s article answers questions submitted by Mr. Matthew Frederes.

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 • “Music List” (Immaculate Concep.)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 8 December 2025, the feast of OUR LADY’S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. In Latin, the title of this feast is: In Conceptione Immaculata Beatae Mariae Virginis. 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

“Reminder” — Month of December (2025)

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. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—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

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed