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 4, 2016

St. Josemaría and the Mass

These pictures can prove St. Josemaría’s love for the Old Mass.

Andrew Leung · July 28, 2016

Free Recordings • British Boys’ Choir

Free recordings of famous British boys’ choirs on YouTube!

Andrew Leung · July 23, 2016

Saints and the “Ad Orientem” Worship

What did the saints say about celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass facing East?

Andrew Leung · July 21, 2016

Summer Sacred Music Workshop • This Weekend!

The Summer Sacred Music Workshop 2016 is finally here!

Andrew Leung · July 18, 2016

“I Desire Mercy, Not Sacrifice”

How can we renew the liturgy with charity? We shouldn’t seek to win arguments on the liturgy.

Andrew Leung · July 14, 2016

Three False Ideas about “Ad Orientem” Celebration

Three common misconceptions about the Mass and “ad orientem” worship.

Andrew Leung · June 23, 2016

Made in China

Gregorian Chant pew cards in Hong Kong.

Andrew Leung · June 16, 2016

A Guardian of the Sacred Tradition in the South — Part 2

Why is the Basilica community so lively and why are they growing so much?

Andrew Leung · June 10, 2016

St. Agnes in NYC Entrusted to Opus Dei

The Church of St. Agnes in Manhattan will be placed under the care of Opus Dei.

Andrew Leung · June 9, 2016

My Recent Discovery

I recently discovered some amazing Choral Works by Philip Stopford.

Andrew Leung · May 26, 2016

A Guardian of the Sacred Tradition in the South

The Basilica of Sts. Peter & Paul is a Guardian of the Sacred Tradition and a great Patron Sacred Music and Arts.

Andrew Leung · May 19, 2016

Summer Sacred Music Workshop 2016

Southeastern Sacred Music presents Summer Sacred Music Workshop 2016.

Andrew Leung · May 12, 2016

Feast of Bl. Álvaro del Portillo

Blessed Álvaro del Portillo, the successor of St. Josemaría Escrivá and Prelate of Opus Dei.

Andrew Leung · May 5, 2016

Video • Mass during WW2

Vintage video of an army chaplain celebrating Mass during World War II.

Andrew Leung · May 2, 2016

Video • Cardinal Burke on the Traditional Latin Mass

Here is what Cardinal Burke has to say about the Latin Mass.

“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