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 · June 25, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Pittsburgh

Stay tuned for daily reports on the CMAA Sacred Music Colloquium next week

Andrew Leung · June 18, 2015

“Battles” in the Church (Part 2 of 2)

2 “Liturgical Battles” that should not be fought

Andrew Leung · June 11, 2015

“Battles” in the Church (Part 1 of 2)

3 common “Liturgical Battles” that we see in the Church nowadays

Andrew Leung · June 4, 2015

Papal Master of Ceremonies on receiving Communion

Reflection of Msgr. Guido Marini, Papal Master of Ceremonies, on receiving communion on the tongue and while kneeling.

Andrew Leung · May 28, 2015

Collaboration Between Artists

Catholic artists need to work together more often.

Andrew Leung · May 21, 2015

Is There a Best Way to Receive Communion?

Receiving in the hand or on the tongue? Standing or kneeling?

Andrew Leung · May 14, 2015

Novus Ordo Can Be Done Well!

The Novus Ordo Mass can be done well—St. Josemaria and his successor did it!

Andrew Leung · May 7, 2015

Pastoral Plan (Part 2 of 2)

Point 3 and 4 of the Pastoral Plan of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. And you don’t want to miss this Sacred Music Workshop!

Andrew Leung · April 30, 2015

Pastoral Plan (Part 1 of 2)

The Pastoral Plan of the Archdiocese of Atlanta was released recently. How can we implement the plan to a parish music program?

Andrew Leung · April 21, 2015

“Proper Of The Mass” (Ignatius Press) • Part 5 of 7

Musicians are naturally attracted to beautiful things; and a beautiful chant book encourages singers to make use of the book.

Andrew Leung · April 9, 2015

The Universal Music

A little reflection on the universality of Sacred Music after Holy Week…

Andrew Leung · March 21, 2015

Video • “A House Divided”

“We must not allow ourselves to become judgmental with our brothers and sisters who don’t appreciate what we appreciate.” —Archbishop Sample

Andrew Leung · March 19, 2015

Are your Triduum booklets ready?

Don’t be the Pharisees and scribes. Help people to pray and understand the music!

Andrew Leung · March 12, 2015

Video • “How to Love that boring Latin Mass”

Don’t change the Mass, let the Mass change you.

Andrew Leung · March 5, 2015

Is your Congregation Ready?

One of the ways to help the congregation to enter into prayer during the Sacred Triduum is through catechesis.

Year’s End Appeal • “Asking for Help”

We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment; we have no major donors; we run no advertisements; we have no savings. As 2024 comes to a close, we could really use your financial support—especially if you have never donated before. Click here to securely donate with any major credit card. Thank you very much!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“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

“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