Views from the Choir Loft

Monsignor Robert Alex Skeris

Jeff Ostrowski · October 19, 2026

PDF Chart (33,344 words) • “Graduale Romanum”—Spanish, English: Multiple Approved Translations

On the 20th anniversary of its founding, Corpus Christi Watershed’s president has several things to say.

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 18, 2025

“Theology of Worship” • Msgr. Robert Skeris (1998)

Mother Angelica asks Monsignor Skeris why liturgical music must be sacred.

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Jeff Ostrowski · October 19, 2024

Is the ‘Orans’ Position Disobedient? • Re: the Congregation’s Posture during the Lord’s Prayer

Forcing the entire congregation to assume various postures has a rather sordid history.

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Jeff Ostrowski · October 16, 2024

Anybody Want This Prayer?

I posted this on social media. Tons of people requested a copy…

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 22, 2015

EWTN Classic • “Theology of Worship” with Fr. Robert Skeris (1998)

Mother Angelica sat down for a wonderful interview with a famous Theologian.

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Music List • (29th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC which I created for this coming Sunday, the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The INTROIT for this Sunday explains why this Sunday is called “Apple Sunday.” As we approach the end of the liturgical year, most of the INTROITS seem to be in Mode III or Mode IV, which are ‘haunting’ tones.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“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

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