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 28, 2016

Musical Works of Mercy

How can we help others spiritually through music?

Andrew Leung · April 23, 2016

Who Says Young People Can’t Sing Traditional Sacred Music?

2 groups of high schoolers, over 200 young people, proved that they can sing and pray with traditional church music.

Andrew Leung · April 21, 2016

Les Misérables and the Year of Mercy

Watch and Listen to Les Misérables during the Year of Mercy!

Andrew Leung · April 18, 2016

Position Opening • Music Director for the NY Dominican Parish

The Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Catherine of Siena in New York City is looking for a Director of Music and Organist.

Andrew Leung · April 13, 2016

Church Madness 2016

Put down your vote for Church Madness 2016!

Andrew Leung · April 7, 2016

Free Downloads • Works by Cardinal Bartolucci (Part 2)

More choral works by Cardinal Bartolucci are available on the Domenico Bartolucci Foundation website.

Andrew Leung · April 1, 2016

The Chapel Royal Solemn Vespers is Available on BBC

A recording of the Solemn Vespers at the Chapel Royal is now available on BBC’s website.

Andrew Leung · March 31, 2016

Promoting a Good Choral Culture at Your Parish

Nothing is impossible with God, everyone can promote a good choral culture at their parish.

Andrew Leung · March 25, 2016

Funeral March for Jesus

Annual Good Friday Funeral March in Macau.

Andrew Leung · March 24, 2016

Tantum Ergo by a French Composer

A setting of Tantum Ergo by Déodat de Sévérac.

Andrew Leung · March 17, 2016

Holy Week — A Week of Love

How can we practice charity during Holy Week?

Andrew Leung · March 10, 2016

Yes or No? • Accompanying Chant with the Organ

One of the hottest topics in the field: should chanting be accompanied by the organ?

Andrew Leung · March 3, 2016

Video • Why is Modern Art so Bad?

Why do we see so many ugly modern churches nowadays?

Andrew Leung · February 25, 2016

Video • The Altar Server “Must See”

The altar server plays a very important role in the liturgy.

Andrew Leung · February 22, 2016

Video • Sacred or Secular?

Sacred or Secular? What do you hear?

“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