Views from the Choir Loft

Simple Polyphony

Jeff Ostrowski · March 17, 2025

“Opportunity of a Lifetime” • Don’t Miss This!

The vast majority of these women had never sung plainsong—but they’ve taken to it like a duck to water.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 7, 2025

“Kyrie Setting” we’re doing for Lent

Kyrie VIII with polyphony.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 17, 2025

“2-Voice Piece” • For February 2nd

The hymn traditionally sung on the feast of the Purification.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 28, 2024

PDF Download • “Two-Voice Polyphony For Lent”

Found in a special choral collection by Maria von Trapp.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 30, 2022

PDF Download • “Contemporary Sanctus” (SATB)

This SATB setting by Father Lhoumeau—although contemporary—certainly adheres to the “rule” of Pope Saint John Paul II.

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 26, 2022

Breaking! • Official Release of “Stowe Missal Eucharistic Motets” for 3 voices (Kevin Allen)

These pieces for “SAB” (Soprano, Alto, Bass) were commissioned by our organization for the National Eucharistic Revival.

Andrea Leal · April 6, 2022

PDF Download • “Regina Caeli for 3 Voices”

I never shared this before because pride and perfectionism held me back.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 15, 2021

PDF Download • Carol based on “The First Nowell”

I recorded all the voices, to demonstrate how it sounds…

Jeff Ostrowski · November 12, 2021

“For The Souls In Purgatory” • A Catholic Hymn

The month of November is dedicated to the souls in Purgatory.

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Jeff Ostrowski · September 24, 2021

“Easy Polyphonic Agnus Dei” • Part 3 of 3

The ability of your singers to sight-read music instantly does not guarantee a good performance.

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“Music List” • 19th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10 August 2025). 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 feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

This Sunday’s Communion Antiphon

This coming Sunday—10 August 2025—is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). The COMMUNION ANTIPHON is really gorgeous, and two of its features are worth mentioning. First of all, the Gospel reading assigned is from Saint Luke, whereas the the antiphon—although it matches the account—comes from Saint Matthew. (If anyone can point to a similar example, please notify me.) Furthermore, if you look at the authentic Gregorian Chant version posted on the feasts website, you’ll notice that it’s MODE III but ends on the ‘wrong’ note. A comparable instance of such a ‘transposed’ chant would be KYRIE IV.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly

Using “Ye” vs. “You” is rather tricky, because it depends upon which era one is trying to recreate—if that makes any sense. In other words, the rules haven’t always been the same for these two. Nevertheless, Father Philip George Caraman (the legendary Jesuit scholar) gives us a masterclass using Saint Luke’s Gospel. Father Caraman was close friends with Monsignor Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, and Sir Alec Guinness.

—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