Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for December 2015

Andrew Leung · December 31, 2015

Te Deum Laudámus

Listen to Herbert Howells’s Te Deum to start the new year!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 31, 2015

Musical Resources • Most Holy Name (Extraordinary Form)

“…mercifully grant that we may in heaven enjoy the blessed vision of him, to whose most holy name we do reverence upon earth.”

Andrew Leung · December 31, 2015

Chant Workshop for Clergy

St. Ambrose School of Chant located in Georgia is organizing a Chant Workshop for Clergy.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 30, 2015

Another “Oops” Moment For Liturgical Press

Msgr. Kevin Irwin says this book “reflects the best of liturgical scholarship and wisdom gleaned from the liturgy.”

Andrew Leung · December 30, 2015

Bishop Perry at Prince of Peace Catholic Church

Bishop Joseph Perry administered the Sacrament of Confirmation and celebrated a Pontifical Solemn High Mass on Gaudete Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 30, 2015

Which Mass Goes With Which Season?

Unfortunately, many ignore the words of Abbot Pothier, included at the front of the Vatican Edition.

Cynthia Ostrowski · December 29, 2015

Popular Posts From 2015

In case you missed any of these!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 29, 2015

PDF • “The Truth Of Papal Claims” (Merry del Val)

Cardinal Raphael Merry del Val published this reply to a Protestant scholar in 1902.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 28, 2015

Hollywood: Midnight Mass By Candlelight

The FSSP had a special Christmas Mass at their new Apostolate in Los Angeles.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 28, 2015

A Myth That Needs To Die

“I never witnessed a Mass in the so-called Extraordinary Form that was done in 15 minutes.”

Andrew Leung · December 26, 2015

New Choir Stalls for the Sistine Chapel Choir

The Sistine Chapel Choir sang beautifully at the Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Richard J. Clark · December 25, 2015

Christmas and the Universal Role of Music

The birth of Christ recalls a specific time and place as does the music of Christmas. It is sacred music that has poured out into an increasingly secular world.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 24, 2015

Musical Resources • Christmas Midnight Mass (Extraordinary Form)

We won’t be singing “Frosty The Snowman” for Offertory!

Andrew Leung · December 22, 2015

Video • Holy Mass in Hollywood, 1944

A video of the Christmas Solemn High Mass in Hollywood film, “Christmas Holiday”

Andrew Leung · December 21, 2015

Sing Like the Angels

We can learn from the best choir, the Holy Angels!

Dom Pothier • Photo from 1904

Dom Paul Cagin, in a 1904 publication (L’oeuvre de Solesmes dans la restauration du chant grégorien) made sure to include a beautiful image of Dom Pothier, the legendary abbot of St-Wandrille. Also shown is a very young Dom André Mocquereau. Auguste Pécoul—considered the spiritual “son” of Abbat Prosper Guéranger of Solesmes—wrote as follows on 24 June 1901: “To forestall any confusion, let us remember that there is just one Gregorian notation—that restored, according to the ancient manuscripts, by the eminent Abbot of Saint-Wandrille, Dom Pothier.” ✠

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “3-Voice Motet” (Father De Laet)

I believe 99% of our readers will recognize this hymn tune. Perhaps Father Edgard De Laet should have called it a ‘hymn’ instead of a ‘motet for three voices’—but he’s technically correct, since MOTET is defined as: “a short piece of sacred choral music, typically polyphonic and unaccompanied.” The even verses are for three voices, as you will see if you download the PDF score at #20245. The odd verses may be song a cappella SATB or unison with organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Hymn for 2 Voices”

Readers who click on this video will see that it starts with verses of the “Pange Lingua” hymn by Saint Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274) arranged for two voices. However, there’s a polyphonic refrain (“Tantum Ergo”) for three voices, taken from Kevin Allen’s Motecta Trium Vocum. If your choir is very small, this piece is for you! You can download the PDF score free of charge—and you can also utilize the rehearsal videos for each individual voice—by navigating yourself to #20323.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”

I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of January (2026)

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

PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)

I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.

—Jeff Ostrowski