Views from the Choir Loft

Theodore Marier

Richard J. Clark · February 24, 2023

New Album from the Boys of Saint Paul’s Choir School

NEW CD from the Saint Paul’s Choir School, Harvard Square with the Sophia Music Group label

Jeff Ostrowski · February 15, 2023

PDF • 2014 Dissertation: “Plainchant Influence on the Liturgical Music of Dr. Marier” (324 pages)

This treatise (324 pages) is a “must read” for anyone who cares about liturgical music in the Catholic Church.

Richard J. Clark · December 23, 2022

John G. Dunn • 1943-2022 • Requiescat In Pace

We mourn the passing of John G. Dunn (1943-2022) Director of Music and Headmaster Emeritus of the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School (currently known as Saint Paul’s Choir School in Harvard Square) The Choir School would not exist today without John Dunn’s vision, dedication, and talent.

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 14, 2022

PDF Download • Plainsong Settings for Voice & Organ … in English! (957 pages)

Composer Brian Michael Page has released “Psalm 151.”

“Entrance Chant” • 3rd Sunday of Easter

You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the Third Sunday of Easter (4 May 2025). Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. The authentic version—on the words ómnis térra—sounds exactly like the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. However, it only sounds that way if you follow Dom Mocquereau’s rhythm, which adds syncopation (in spite of the fact that Mocquereau claimed to abhor syncopation). The Germans do not syncopate the rhythm. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I attempted to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of April (2025)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who—though they’ve followed our blog for years—don’t realize we publish a free newsletter. 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

“Music List” • Easter Sunday

Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the Easter Sunday (20 April 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Several of the selections are quite beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

When to Sit, Stand and Kneel like it’s 1962

There are lots of different guides to postures for Mass, but I couldn’t find one which matched our local Latin Mass, so I made this one: sit-stand-kneel-crop

—Veronica Brandt

The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum

Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.

—Daniel Tucker

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).

—Corpus Christi Watershed