Views from the Choir Loft

Roman Missal Third Edition

Fr. David Friel · February 9, 2014

Celebrating Parish Weddings

New Rubrics for Use of the Gloria

Fr. David Friel · January 26, 2014

Comparing Canons

Does Using Eucharistic Prayer II Really “Save Time”?

Fr. David Friel · January 5, 2014

Ministry vs. Edification

Do the People “Minister” to their Priests?

Jeff Ostrowski · January 2, 2014

When Is The Sequence Sung? Before The Alleluia?

In 2000, there was an effort made at restoring the Sequence to its proper place.

Fr. David Friel · January 1, 2014

Fruitful Virginity

Flaming, Yet Unconsumed

Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2013

“For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours”

A mystery! The 1970s ICEL seems not to have included these words, even though they were in the official Latin …

Jeff Ostrowski · October 25, 2013

How Bad Was It?

Someday, my children might ask: “Do you remember the first ICEL translation of the Roman Missal?”

Fr. David Friel · October 20, 2013

What to Do with the Prayer of the Faithful

A Critique

Corpus Christi Watershed · October 17, 2013

Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of ICEL in Rome

Maestro Charles Cole strikes again!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 26, 2013

Gregorian Missal With The New Translation!

Can anyone help me understand this sentence in the Foreword?

Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn

A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!” Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Message from the Vice-President!

The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Seven (7) Hymn Verses for November!

In the month of November, we remember in a special way the souls in purgatory. The BRÉBEUF HYMNAL often includes text alone versions for its hymns; why is that? The short answer is: flexibility. The “text only” version allows each choirmaster to employ a myriad of melodies. For example, I recently set the English translation of “De Profúndis” with the DAVOST MELODY (PDF). We are singing this before November ends. Indeed, you can hear our volunteer singing this (in real life) if you click here.

—Jeff Ostrowski