Views from the Choir Loft

Organ Accompaniments

Jeff Ostrowski · May 24, 2025

“Gloria in Spanish” • Free Accompaniment

Several people have requested this.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 29, 2021

PDF Booklet • First Sunday of Advent Vespers (Organ Accompaniment) — Draft Copy

It may be an ugly booklet, but it got the job done yesterday.

Jeff Ostrowski · June 25, 2021

PDF Download • Pentecost Sequence In English! — Gregorian Notation w/ Organ Accompaniment

Does plainsong work in English? It actually can!

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Jeff Ostrowski · June 2, 2021

PDF Download • Organ Accompaniments for “Lauda Sion Salvatorem” (Sequence)

“Man cannot understand this, cannot perceive it; but a lively faith affirms that the change—which is outside the natural course of things—takes place.” (Ladua Sion, v12)

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Jeff Ostrowski · May 25, 2021

“Veni Creator Spiritus” + Organ Accompaniment • with English Translation by Fr. Fortescue

Did you realize there are two versions of this famous hymn?

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 11, 2021

PDF Download • 1954 “Bragers Hymnal”—Accompaniment Edition (131 pages)

We have scanned this extremely rare hymnal, granted Imprimatur by Francis Cardinal Spellman on 15 February 1954.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 9, 2020

PDF Download • “Veni Creator Spiritus” Organ Accompaniment (Each Verse Notated)

Accompaniment to the hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” with all the verses written out (composed by Jeff Ostrowski).

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Jeff Ostrowski · April 8, 2016

“Tantum Ergo” • Eleven (11) Harmonizations

Do you know what the “Tantum Ergo” means, word for word?

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

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Our choir is on break during the month of July. However, on the feasts website, the chants have been posted for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C), which is this coming Sunday: 6 July 2025.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)

With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.

—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

On 12 March 1908, Feast of St. Gregory the Great, the complete publication of the “Graduale” was issued by the Vatican Press. That very day, Dom Pothier solemnly presented the first copy to the Holy Father. Pius X wished to be the first to see the new book; he opened it at random, at page 128 of the supplement “pro aliquibus locis”—the Introit of the new Feast of Our lady of Lourdes. The Pope sang it with perfect taste to the last note.

— A witness of the papal audience writing circa 1915