Views from the Choir Loft

Leslie Rumble Radio Replies

Jeff Ostrowski · May 3, 2024

“The English Mozart” • Who Was That?

Including a hymn suitable for a Catholic wedding (“Nuptial Mass”).

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 21, 2020

“Jesu Nostra Redemptio” • Ancient Hymn for the Ascension translated into English!

Did you know every Mass is a celebration of our Lord’s Ascension? — Here’s proof.

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · March 31, 2020

Going Beyond Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s “Take”

Sheen has sometimes been criticized for avoiding mention of the sacred liturgy during his talks, but I cannot agree with such a view. • Includes about the Holy Eucharist, including a quote by Father Leslie Rumble and a quote from Pope Pius X+

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · May 25, 2013

Fulton Sheen & The Holy Eucharist

Sheen’s book “Life of Christ” is such a treasure.

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

Proportionalist Plainchant • (Documented)

On this website, we believe: “If we don’t know where we came from, we can’t know where we’re going.” As a result, we often spend hours scanning old books of GREGORIAN CHANT (and organ accompaniments). We don’t claim those items are useful or desirable for today’s circumstances; the goal is understanding where we came from. Here is a fascinating musical score from the 19th century. At that time, it was believed that MENSURALISM (a.k.a. “proportionalism”) was the historically correct way to sing plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Garnier Alleluias • “Have They Moved?”

We received an email asking whether the “Garnier Gospel Acclamations website” has…

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Absolutely ‘Perfect’ Voice-Leading?

This brief passage seems (in my humble opinion) to be a delightful specimen.

To access this post, you must purchase Monthly Subscription or Yearly Subscription.

—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

“Reader Feedback” • 22 June 2026

A reader wrote to us from Virginia: “I really appreciate the 23 harmonizations that you posted on CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED for the Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary hymn. I hope to find willing voices in our small Schola Cantorum to try the three-voice version. Carry on, sir! You’re doing the Lord’s work.” While we don’t know this gentleman personally, we note that he earned a Ph.D. (which demonstrates that our blog has something for everybody). 😊

—Corpus Christi Watershed