Views from the Choir Loft

Traditional Catholic Vestments

Fr. David Friel · March 29, 2021

Vesting Prayers • Part 9 of 9

The Dalmatic

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · August 23, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 8 of 9

The Chasuble

Fr. David Friel · August 16, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 7 of 9

The Stole

Fr. David Friel · August 9, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 6 of 9

The Maniple

Fr. David Friel · August 2, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 5 of 9

The Cincture

Fr. David Friel · July 26, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 4 of 9

The Alb

Fr. David Friel · July 19, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 3 of 9

The Amice

Fr. David Friel · July 12, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 2 of 9

The Hand Washing

Fr. David Friel · July 5, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 1 of 9

Over the coming weeks, I will present a series of reflections on the vesting prayers.

Gwyneth Holston · June 23, 2014

Archbishop Sample’s Letter On Sacred Music (8 of 8)

Eagerly awaiting a Pastoral Letter on Sacred Art in Divine Worship.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Fr. David Friel · March 2, 2014

The Value of Tradition

Experience vs. Impartiality

Jeff Ostrowski · November 5, 2013

Black Vestments & Wisdom From Wives

Following the Second Vatican Council, black vestments aren’t usually worn because they’re considered too “spooky and scary.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 16, 2013

Beautiful Vestments Vs. Ugly Vestments

Has anyone else noticed this?

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski

16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski

14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski