Views from the Choir Loft

Medieval Manuscripts

Jeff Ostrowski · November 18, 2024

High Resolution Scan • “Missale Romanum” (1857)

This rare missal from 1857 contains some musical notes.

Corpus Christi Watershed · December 25, 2021

“Merry Christmas!” • From Our Family To Yours

Dear readers, thank you for everything!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 12, 2021

Being Too Hard On Priests?

…including a fancy capital “A” from a medieval manuscript.

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Jeff Ostrowski · April 4, 2021

(Hymn) • “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”

…including rehearsal videos for each individual voice.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 19, 2021

Saint Joseph + Baby Jesus In A Walker

This luscious manuscript was created about A.D. 1453 for a French Noblewoman.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 4, 2021

Now Online! • “Missale Romanum” (1615 edition)

How ironic that this is being hosted by the Martin Luther University!

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Jeff Ostrowski · August 28, 2020

“Resplendent Beyond Reckoning” • Sherborne Missal (1399AD)

As the Isaac Jogues Missal would do 650 years later, this Missal provides pictures of the priest during the Canon!

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Jeff Ostrowski · January 15, 2020

What Palestrina Did With Kyrie II (“Fons Bonitatis”)

Many erroneously believe the Kyrie was the only thing troped, but that’s not even close to true.

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Jeff Ostrowski · October 10, 2019

Incredible!!! • Ancient Kyriale MSS for Download

Through the centuries, we observe a remarkable stability—in spite of variants, which will always exist.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2017

PDF Download • “Missal for the Laity” (1846)

Have you noticed liturgical progressives are never happy?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 6, 2015

The Beauty Of Ancient Catholic Manuscripts

Medieval manuscripts were normally created by (at least) two monks: one drew, one wrote.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 6, 2015

Jaw-Dropping Liturgical Manuscripts (7,055 Pages)

Catholics can now *see with their own eyes* the antiquity of our liturgy.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Music Director Job • $80,000 per year

Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published

Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.

—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