Views from the Choir Loft

Andrew Leung • Article Archive

Andrew Leung graduated from the sacred music program of Franciscan University of Steubenville, majored in vocal performance. He has also studied organ, choral conducting and Gregorian chant with world-class musicians. Prior to returning to Hong Kong, he served as a parish music director in Atlanta, and later as the organist and choirmaster at the Cathedral of Macau, China. Andrew is currently the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers and music director at Our Lady of China Church. He is also an artist and vocal coach at the Paul Phoenix Academy.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Andrew Leung · August 12, 2015

John Scott (1956-2015)

Today, the world lost one of the greatest living church musicians, Dr. John Scott.

Andrew Leung · August 6, 2015

Sacred Music as an Emotional Experience

Emotions and the field of Sacred Music

Andrew Leung · August 2, 2015

Maestro Colin Mawby—The Newest Blogger

Maestro Mawby is now a contributor for «CASTAWAY» and his articles may interest you…

Andrew Leung · July 29, 2015

The Anglican can dress anything up?

Recently, I came across a video of a Anglican boys’ choir singing Dan Schutte’s “Here I am Lord”…

Andrew Leung · July 23, 2015

Review • Bread from Heaven

A collection of English Eucharistic motets published by Heath Morber and Ben Yanke

Andrew Leung · July 20, 2015

Videos • Bishop-Elect Robert Barron on the Liturgy

People should not be coming to Mass for the emotional high

Andrew Leung · July 18, 2015

Summer Sacred Music Workshop 2015

Summer Sacred Music Workshop in Jasper, GA, on August 15.

Andrew Leung · July 16, 2015

Afterthoughts on the Colloquium

Some afterthoughts on the Sacred Music Colloquium XXV

Andrew Leung · July 9, 2015

Video • “Benedict XVI Receives two Honorary Doctorates on Sacred Music”

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI received two Honorary Doctorates on Sacred Music last Saturday

Andrew Leung · July 9, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update VI

Report on the sixth (last) day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

Andrew Leung · July 3, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update V

Report on the fifth day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

Andrew Leung · July 2, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update IV

Report on the fourth day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

Andrew Leung · July 1, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update III

Report on the third day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

Andrew Leung · June 30, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update II

Report on the second day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

Andrew Leung · June 29, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update I

Report on the first day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

“Music List” • (Christ the King Sunday)

This coming Sunday—24 November 2024—is Christ the King Sunday (a.k.a. “Final Sunday in Ordinary Time”). 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. You’ll notice we’re learning Moreau’s “Congregational Polyphonic Enhancement” for the OUR FATHER. And the the Mode 3 ENTRANCE CHANT is utterly sublime.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • Christ the King

Download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the Solemnity of Christ the King (24 November 2024). It mimics the Mode III Latin version in a truly spectacular way. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, I attempted to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • (33rd Sund. Ordinary Time)

This coming Sunday—17 November 2024—is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. 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. You’ll notice we’re learning Moreau’s “Congregational Polyphonic Enhancement” for the OUR FATHER. For the record, our opening hymn is particularly beautiful. So is the Mode 6 ENTRANCE CHANT.

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

Principles vs Preferences

I ran into this idea recently: principles vs. preferences in planning out a curriculum or music lineup. In this idea, it is imperative to not misconstrue personal preferences into principles—that the music (or subject matter) is great because: “I have good taste, and I like it.” De gustibus… Education, study and docility to the Magisterium of the Church on matters of liturgical music must be present in those who make the music at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Hours. Who knows? Maybe you might start to prefer the music that is fitting according to the principles Catholic Sacred Music?

—William J. Fritz

Liquescent Notes in the Official Edition

The official edition—the EDITIO VATICANA itself—is somewhat inconsistent when it comes to liquescent notes. If you wish to see a perfect “apples-to-apples” comparison, click here. Such “inconsistency” was not owing to ignorance on the part of Abbat Pothier: the manuscripts themselves are inconsistent when it comes to liquescent notes.

—Jeff Ostrowski