Views from the Choir Loft

Sacred Music Colloquium

Jeff Ostrowski · October 22, 2021

PDF Download • “Wedding Booklet” (22 pages)

A word about “Kleptomaniac Choirmasters.”

Fr. David Friel · May 9, 2021

Virtual Sacred Music Colloquium 2021

Alongside many familiar faces, several new presenters are joining the faculty this year.

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Fr. David Friel · June 11, 2020

Virtual Sacred Music Colloquium 2020

The CMAA will offer a virtual version of its annual, week-long workshop.

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Fr. David Friel · June 25, 2017

Composition with Pencil & Paper or Computer Software?

A lunch-time conversation at Sacred Music Colloquium 2017 in St. Paul, MN

Fr. David Friel · May 7, 2017

Fota X Conference (and other Summer Opportunities)

Summer 2017 looks to be a blockbuster period for sacred music activity.

Fr. David Friel · April 16, 2017

Introducing the Wethersfield Institute Chant Workshop

A new chant workshop in upstate New York in June 2017.

Fr. David Friel · June 24, 2016

Colloquium 2016 • Day 4

Reflections on Offering a Colloquium Mass

Fr. David Friel · June 23, 2016

Colloquium 2016 • Day 3

The Organic Development of the Liturgy and the New Music Breakouts

Fr. David Friel · June 22, 2016

Colloquium 2016 • Day 2

Explanatory Images from Wilko Brouwers

Fr. David Friel · June 21, 2016

Colloquium 2016 • Day 1

A concert of early music by the ensemble “Pro-Arte Saint Louis”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 24, 2015

Our Church Music Movement: How Are We Doing?

I never dreamed that so many people love this stuff…and are willing to fight for it!

Fr. David Friel · March 15, 2015

The Future of the Pipe Organ

“The manifold possibilities of the organ remind us of the immensity and the magnificence of God.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

Fr. David Friel · November 16, 2014

Colloquium Friends & Chant Workshops

“Adventus Dona” in the Diocese of San Diego

Fr. David Friel · November 9, 2014

Sacred Architecture & the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

When we come to church, there should be no question whether we are in a church or in a coffeehouse or in a multipurpose gym.

Fr. David Friel · July 8, 2014

Colloquium Roundup

How to Experience Colloquium XXIV Belatedly and From Afar

‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase

Father Adrian Porter, using the cracher dans la soupe example, did a praiseworthy job explaining the difference between ‘dynamic’ and ‘formal’ translation. This is something Monsignor Ronald Knox explained time and again—yet even now certain parties feign ignorance. I suppose there will always be people who pretend the only ‘valid’ translation of Mitigásti omnem iram tuam; avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ… would be “You mitigated all ire of you; you have averted from your indignation’s ire.” Those who would defend such a translation suffer from an unfortunate malady. One of my professors called it “cognate on the brain.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Father Cuthbert Lattey • “The Hebrew MSS”

Father Cuthbert Lattey (d. 1954) wrote: “In a large number of cases the ancient Christian versions and some other ancient sources seem to have been based upon a better Hebrew text than that adopted by the rabbis for official use and alone suffered to survive. Sometimes, too, the cognate languages suggest a suitable meaning for which there is little or no support in the comparatively small amount of ancient Hebrew that has survived. The evidence of the metre is also at times so clear as of itself to furnish a strong argument; often it is confirmed by some other considerations. […] The Jewish copyists and their directors, however, seem to have lost the tradition of the metre at an early date, and the meticulous care of the rabbis in preserving their own official and traditional text (the ‘massoretic’ text) came too late, when the mischief had already been done.” • Msgr. Knox adds: “It seems the safest principle to follow the Latin—after all, St. Jerome will sometimes have had a better text than the Massoretes—except on the rare occasions when there is no sense to be extracted from the Vulgate at all.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • 9 Nov. (Dedic. Lateran)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 9 November 2025, which is the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the sensational feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (2025)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski