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 · April 12, 2018

Photos • Two Recent Solemn Masses in Hong Kong

This wasn’t my first time serving as a subdeacon, but it was a trembling experience.

Andrew Leung · March 8, 2018

When Music Encounters Religion

A very special project at the University of St Andrews: the TheoArtistry project.

Andrew Leung · February 22, 2018

The Smoke of Satan

Blessed Pope Paul VI: “The smoke of Satan has entered the Church.”

Andrew Leung · February 1, 2018

A Chinese Mass Setting

A Mass setting from the Far East composed by Fr. Si-Yan Tang.

Andrew Leung · January 30, 2018

Cardinal Zen’s Open Letter

Cardinal Zen explaining the current situation of the Church in China.

Andrew Leung · January 25, 2018

FREE • Chant Conducting Seminar

Register now!!! Free online seminar on Gregorian Chant Conducting with Dr. Jennifer Donelson

Andrew Leung · January 11, 2018

Don’ts for Choirmasters (Part 2)

John Newton’s practical, spiritual and entertaining ideas and advice for choirmasters.

Andrew Leung · January 4, 2018

Don’ts for Choirmasters (Part 1)

A recently-discovered manual for choir directors by John Newton.

Andrew Leung · December 21, 2017

The Marvels of Choral Singing

A reflection and meditation on choral singing.

Andrew Leung · December 14, 2017

Video • A Chinese Offertory Hymn

My new choir singing a Chinese offertory hymn…

Andrew Leung · November 23, 2017

Arvo Pärt received the Ratzinger Prize

“A beautiful choice, that of the commission, aimed at pointing out that new way for theology that is music”

Andrew Leung · November 9, 2017

Vox Antiqua’s Debut

My new choir made its debut on the Feast of Christ the King.

Andrew Leung · November 2, 2017

Video • My New Project

Vox Antiqua, the new Catholic professional choir in Hong Kong, in action!

Andrew Leung · October 26, 2017

Singing with Peter Philips

Peter Philips: “Polyphony shouldn’t be sung with absolute straight tone—that is not real singing!”

Andrew Leung · October 5, 2017

A Liturgical Tragedy

I have experienced a similar situation before, and it was not a pleasant experience.

“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