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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for September 2015

Jeff Ostrowski · September 22, 2015

Transposed Mode • This Sunday’s Communion

One could also use a Mode VII psalm tone to “solve” the problem … but that just sounds wrong.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 22, 2015

A Serious Problem That Needs To Be Addressed

The accusation by this lady really hurt me; but I’m not sure why…

Christopher Mueller · September 21, 2015

A Striking Approach To Performing Gregorian Chant

A commenter had posted, “Their metrical chant is a revelation!” That piqued my curiosity.

Fr. David Friel · September 20, 2015

A Missal for the Ordinariate

Concrete gestures that enter hearts and stir consciences are essential, inspiring in everyone that inner conversion that is the prerequisite for all ecumenical progress. — Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Jeff Ostrowski · September 19, 2015

“Agnus Dei” For Three Voices • Guillaume Dufay

…including a digression on why choirs hate Solfège.

Veronica Brandt · September 19, 2015

How many tunes should we use?

Including a brief survey of tunes for Benediction hymns from a few of the hymnbooks on my bookshelf.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 19, 2015

Musical Resources • 17th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“Very humbly, O Lord, we implore of thy majesty, that the holy mysteries we are celebrating … save us from transgressing in the time to come …”

Richard J. Clark · September 18, 2015

Communion Antiphons for Advent • World Library Publications

World Library Publications has published settings of Communion propers for Advent. Listen here to beautiful recordings directed by Paul French.

Andrew Leung · September 17, 2015

Sir David Willcocks (1919-2015)

Sir David Willcocks passed away at home today aged 95.

Andrew Leung · September 17, 2015

Pontifical Solemn High Mass in Steubenville

Students and Alumni of the Sacred Music Program of Franciscan University of Steubenville sang the Pontifical Solemn High Mass celebrated by Cardinal Burke.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 16, 2015

“The songs and hymns presently in use need to be reconsidered.”

“…it is important to avoid musical forms which, because of their profane use, are not conducive to prayer.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 16, 2015

“Live” Recording Of Polyphonic Kyrie VIII

Last Sunday we sang a beautiful composition by Richard Rice.

Cynthia Ostrowski · September 16, 2015

Catholic Bulletin Art • Installment #69

Today’s installment is a picture of Saint Alphonsus Ligouri.

Andrew Leung · September 15, 2015

10 Ideas for Practicing Choral Music

“Practicing Choral Music: Ten ideas the singer who doesn’t think they can practice on their own” by Doreen Fryling, a lifelong practice avoider.

Cynthia Ostrowski · September 15, 2015

To God Who Giveth Joy To My Youth

“Old age steals on with its rich harvest and its peculiar trials, yet the same lips pronounce the same exultant words…”

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President’s Corner

    Music List • (4th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 4th Sunday of Lent (15 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has sublime propers. It is most often referred to as “Lætare Sunday” owing to its INTROIT. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • Communion (4th Snd. Lent)
    The COMMUNION ANTIPHON for this coming Sunday, which is the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A), is particularly beautiful. There’s something irresistible about this tone; it’s neither happy nor sad. As always, I encourage readers to visit the flourishing feasts website, where the complete Propria Missae may be downloaded free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Good Friday Flowers
    Good Friday has a series of prayers for various parties: the pope, catechumens, pagans, heretics, schismatics, and so forth. In the old liturgical books, there was no official ‘name’ for these prayers. (This wasn’t unusual as ‘headers’ and ‘titles’ for each section is a rather modern idea.) The Missal simply instructed the priest to go to the Epistle side and begin. In the SHERBORNE MISSAL, each prayer begins with a different—utterly spectacular—flower. This PDF file shows the first few prayers. Has anyone counted the ‘initial’ drop-cap flowers in the SHERBORNE MISSAL? Surely there are more than 1,000.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)
    Some consider Songs of Syon (1910) the greatest Episcopalian hymnal ever printed. As a Roman Catholic, I have no right to weigh in one way or the other. However, this particular page has me stumped. I just know I’ve heard that tune somewhere! If you can help, please email me. I’m talking about the text which begins: “This is the day the Lord hath made; In unbeclouded light array’d.” The book is by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and its complete title is: Songs of Syon: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Back in 2016, Corpus Christi Watershed scanned and uploaded this insanely rare book. For years our website was the sole place one could download it as a PDF file.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation
    It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The Council of Trent taught: “In this divine sacrifice which takes place at Mass, the same Christ is present and is immolated in an unbloody manner, Who once on the Cross offered Himself in a bloody manner. For the victim is one and the same, now offering through the ministry of priests, Who then offered Himself on the Cross; only the manner of offering is different” (Session XXII, cap. 2, Denzinger, n. 940).

— Pope Pius XII (2 November 1954)

Recent Posts

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  • Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)
  • Dr. Tappan • Answers + Analysis: My “Inquiry” For Music Directors (3,087 words)
  • Eucharistic Hymns for Your Choir

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