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 · September 24, 2015

Papal Liturgies – Day 3 of the Papal Visit

Pope Francis celebrated Solemn Vespers at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.

Andrew Leung · September 24, 2015

My New Assignment—Part 1

Please pray for me as I continue to discern my vocation to the priesthood.

Andrew Leung · September 23, 2015

Papal Liturgies – Day 2 of the Papal Visit

Some highlights of the papal liturgies on the second day of Pope Francis’s visit

Andrew Leung · September 17, 2015

Sir David Willcocks (1919-2015)

Sir David Willcocks passed away at home today aged 95.

Andrew Leung · September 17, 2015

Pontifical Solemn High Mass in Steubenville

Students and Alumni of the Sacred Music Program of Franciscan University of Steubenville sang the Pontifical Solemn High Mass celebrated by Cardinal Burke.

Andrew Leung · September 15, 2015

10 Ideas for Practicing Choral Music

“Practicing Choral Music: Ten ideas the singer who doesn’t think they can practice on their own” by Doreen Fryling, a lifelong practice avoider.

Andrew Leung · September 10, 2015

Praying for Our Dead

“Praying for Our Dead: Essential Music for Catholic Funeral Mass” workshop will be held in Jaspers, GA on October 3.

Andrew Leung · September 3, 2015

Cardinal Burke will be in Steubenville!

Cardinal Burke will be visiting Steubenville next Tuesday.

Andrew Leung · September 2, 2015

Video • Ars Celebrandi 2015

A video of Ars Celebrandi Workshops in Poland

Andrew Leung · September 1, 2015

BIG NEWS • SSPX Priests can Validly Absolve

Pope Francis has granted that SSPX priests can give absolution validly and licitly during the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Andrew Leung · August 27, 2015

Cake or Frosting?

The Liturgy is the cake and Sacred Music is the frosting…

Andrew Leung · August 26, 2015

A Paragraph that Caught Attention

“Re-discovery of the Church’s Sacred Tradition: II Kings 22” by Fr. David Carter, JCL.

Andrew Leung · August 20, 2015

The Danger of Praise and Worship

Praise and Worship can be dangerous and confusing…

Andrew Leung · August 18, 2015

Summer Sacred Music Workshop — Report

Report on the Summer Sacred Music Workshop in Jasper, GA.

Andrew Leung · August 13, 2015

Thoughts on the “Hymn” for the Year of Mercy?

The Vatican has just introduced the official hymn of the Holy Year Of Mercy. Any thoughts?

How Sharp Are Your Eyes?

Just around the corner is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The GREGORIAN MISSAL (Solesmes Abbey, 1990) is an utterly gorgeous book—there’s no question about that. But several typos did creep in. Can you spot the major typo for the ENTRANCE CHANT on the feast of the Immaculate Conception? How sharp are your eyes? If you succeed, send me an email letting me know.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“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

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