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 · March 30, 2017

Reconstructed 16th-Century Mass

An interesting project to reconstruct a 16th century Mass as Henry VIII would have heard it.

Andrew Leung · February 14, 2017

Feature Video • London Oratory Schola

A very cool promotion video of the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School

Andrew Leung · February 2, 2017

Invest in your Music Program!

Financial support is necessary for building a successful parish music program.

Andrew Leung · January 12, 2017

The Role of Catholic Church Choir

Keep God as the center of the choir and direct our music towards Him.

Andrew Leung · January 5, 2017

PDF Download • “Missa de Angelis” (Fr. Castro)

Fr. Áureo Castro’s setting alternates the chant melody and the choral parts.

Andrew Leung · November 24, 2016

Free Download • Simple Choral Midnight Mass Introit

A simple setting of “Dominus Dixit ad Me” by Fr. Áureo Castro.

Andrew Leung · November 10, 2016

CMAA Winter Sacred Music 2017

Early Registration is still available for Winter Sacred Music 2017 (Birmingham, AL).

Andrew Leung · October 27, 2016

New Document on Christian Burial and Cremation

The CDF released a Instruction on Christian Burial and Cremation yesterday.

Andrew Leung · October 13, 2016

The New Feature on the Organ of King’s College

Check out this newest feature on the restored organ in the Chapel of King’s College!

Andrew Leung · October 6, 2016

St. Francis and Sacred Music

St. Francis of Assisi is not a “liturgical hippie.” He is a lover of the Roman liturgy and might have sung polyphony…

Andrew Leung · September 15, 2016

The Power of Sacred Music

True Sacred Music brings hope and joy to those suffering.

Andrew Leung · September 8, 2016

Ten Reflections on “Pride of Place”

Giving Gregorian Chant the “pride of place” is more than just singing the Propers.

Andrew Leung · September 1, 2016

The First Catholic Diocese in East Asia

Macau is the first Roman Catholic diocese in East Asia.

Andrew Leung · August 27, 2016

The Reason for Choir — Paul Mealor

Welsh composer, Paul Mealor, talks about the importance of choral music.

Andrew Leung · August 25, 2016

I Am Moving Again!

I will be studying at St. Joseph Seminary in the historical Diocese of Macau, China.

“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