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?

“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

Lectionary Errors

If you look at the official Responsorial Psalm (PDF) for this coming Sunday, you’ll notice the current Lectionary has the wrong refrain. Why is this a big deal? Why even mention such a thing? Everybody makes mistakes, right? Here’s why it matters. The USCCB—which makes money by selling the sacred liturgical texts—has historically been ruthless when it comes to such matters. When various publishers point out errors to them, their response has been: “If you dare to correct the error, we’ll sue you.” These errors are not a matter of nuance; e.g. sometimes the previous (English) edition of the Lectionary got them right! Bottom Line: mandatory, indulgenced, liturgical texts shouldn’t be sold; they should be freely available to all Catholics.

—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