Views from the Choir Loft

Archives for December 2017

Jeff Ostrowski · December 19, 2017

“Death” • By John Henry Cardinal Newman

No man can deliver his brother, no make agreement unto God for him.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 18, 2017

PDF Download • Kyrie “O Magnum Mysterium”

This morning, I recorded the voice parts—but please pardon my screechy soprano notes!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 17, 2017

How Should Renaissance Music Be Sung?

Hermann Finck (d. 1558) wrote about choral sound and performance in 1556.

Fr. David Friel · December 17, 2017

Gray Book for Baptism of Children Approved

How will the “confirmatio” and “regonitio” processes unfold in light of “Magnum principium”?

Veronica Brandt · December 16, 2017

Not That Gaudete

A simple misunderstanding that arises with new choir members who are aware of the Christmas Carol called Gaudete and that the Third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday.

Richard J. Clark · December 15, 2017

Discouragement and Hope

Despite such a bleak picture, so many musicians remain faithful and loyal servants of the Church. This is hope.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 14, 2017

3rd Sunday of Advent (3rd of December)

John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water; but there hath stood one in the midst of you, Whom you know not…”

Andrew Leung · December 14, 2017

Video • A Chinese Offertory Hymn

My new choir singing a Chinese offertory hymn…

Jeff Ostrowski · December 13, 2017

PDF Download • “Rorate Mass” (13 pages) —Dec 2017

“Let us not be cast into the darkness to burn in flames, but may we share the joy of heaven, seeing the face of God.”

Guest Author · December 12, 2017

Latin Mass Youth Choir…in Las Vegas!

“I am a firm believer that anyone can learn to sing, even tiny children.” —Andrea Leal

Jeff Ostrowski · December 11, 2017

Advent Piece for 2 Voices

Multi-Track recording created by a high school sophomore.

Fr. David Friel · December 10, 2017

Knowledge of the Infant Lord

Sheer Grace

Veronica Brandt · December 9, 2017

Online Advent Calendars 2017

What do you use to countdown to Christmas?

Jeff Ostrowski · December 8, 2017

PDF Download • Immac. Conception Booklet

“He whom the whole world cannot contain was enclosed in thy womb…”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 7, 2017

“Creator Alme Siderum” (Guerrero)

The famous plainsong tune can be played on a Woofer Guitar.

“Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent, Year C)

This coming Sunday—22 December 2024—is the 4th Sunday of Advent (Year C). Some have expressed interest in perusing my “ORDER OF MUSIC.” If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The English version of “Roráte Cæli” we’re singing for the ENTRANCE CHANT is magnificent.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • 4th Sunday of Advent

Download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 4th Sunday of Advent (22 December 2024). Set in the first mode—just like the authentic version—this setting manages to capture the “essence” of the Gregorian setting in quite an admirable way. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. 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

Communion (4th Sunday of Advent)

The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (PDF) we’re singing for the 4th Sunday of Advent has a particularly gorgeous melody. The text (from the prophet Isaiah) is also quite beautiful and is cited toward the beginning of Saint Matthew’s Gospel. It certainly seems like most of the Advent antiphons come from the book of Isaiah…

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Lessons and Carols”

Seen online! Dr. Samuel Backman conducted a “Lessons and Carols” service with his choir, and someone produced this lovely vignette.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

Epiphany Proclamation 2025

Each year, without fail, someone asks me to typeset the Epiphany Proclamation, an announcement of moveable feasts chanted each year on the feast of the Epiphany. As a result, you may now find an archive of 23 such proclamations in PDF ready to print HERE.

—Veronica Brandt

The Breviary in the Life of the Laity

Recently I have been enjoying looking through the inaugural (1927) edition of a 20th-century liturgical magazine called Orate Fratres. The July 1927 issue included an excellent article by a Chicago laywoman named Ellen Gates Starr entitled “The Delights of the Breviary: From the Point of View of a Lay Woman.” As we in the 21st century have recently undergone a (blessed!) re-translation of the missal into English, and as we await with joyful hope (please God, before Jesus comes back!) a similar re-translation of the breviary, the opening of her article reminded me of that old saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Nearly a hundred years ago, she penned words that could just as easily have been written today: “It is indeed a privilege to be allowed any participation, however slight, in the liturgical movement in the Church – the movement to bring back the classics of devotion, the Missal and the Breviary, into general use by the laity. The wonder is that they should ever have fallen into disuse. Nothing can take the place of these great universal prayers of the Church, the prayers of the Mass and the divine Office. One has only to know them to find them indispensable. And alas, how few of the laity know them!” I know that I have been tremendously nourished by regular praying of the breviary as of late, and my wish is that you and I, dear reader, may continue to nourish our interior lives with the official prayer of the Church, which present to us (in the Mass) and extend (in the Office) the fullness of Christ’s greatest gift to us – the gift of Himself – in the Most Holy Eucharist.

—Daniel Tucker

Saint Phillip Neri founded a religious congregation called the Oratory. Animuccia was involved from early on and remained “maestro di capella” of the Oratory until his death. The Oratory was able to attract many musicians who volunteered their services, including the famous singer Francesco Soto de Langa from the Capella Sistina, the composer Palestrina, and probably the composer Tomás Luis de Victoria who lived in the same house as St. Phillip Neri for five years.

— Source Unknown