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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Jeff Ostrowski • Article Archive

A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He completed studies in Education and Musicology at the graduate level. Having worked as a church musician in Los Angeles for ten years, in 2024 he accepted a position as choirmaster for Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Michigan, where he resides with his wife and children. —Read full biography (with photographs).

Jeff Ostrowski · January 7, 2020

JMO Copy (inviolable) St. Jean de Lalande Library of Rare Books

JMO Copy (inviolable) St. Jean de Lalande Library of Rare Books “The judicious searcher in this remarkable online collection will certainly reap great rewards for his effort.” — Fr. Robert A. Skeris, Benjamin T. Rome School of Music (CUA) HE SAINT Jean de Lalande Library is derived primarily from Jeff Ostrowski’s personal collection of rare […]

Jeff Ostrowski · December 31, 2019

Hymn • “A Solis Ortus Cardine” (In English)

The Church’s greatest hymn? Many believe it’s this one.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 30, 2019

PDF Accompaniment • “Jesu Redemptor Omnium”

You can compare my accompaniment to that of Achille P. Bragers.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 24, 2019

Video • “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

Older Catholic hymnals did funny things with this melody.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 17, 2019

“Agincourt” • Do You Know This Hymn?

I insisted that my interpretation was correct. Then she made a comment that haunts me still.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 16, 2019

Fr. Peter Gee • My First Chant Teacher

Is it just me, or does England have extremely beautiful churches?

Jeff Ostrowski · December 12, 2019

Fantastic! • “Somber Yet Powerful” Advent Hymn

It’s impossible to incorporate all the awesome Advent hymns; the season is too short.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 10, 2019

PDF • “Veni Veni Emmanuel” (2 Voices + Organ)

Download this PDF score—free to all—and sing during Advent!

Jeff Ostrowski · December 1, 2019

(Archive) • St. Edmund Campion Missal & Hymnal (2nd Edition)

Foreword by Fr. Berg   —   Nine Images   —   2nd Edition Info Table of Contents   —   Executive Summary ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENTS (2 vols.)   —   “How do I open this book properly?” (VIDEOS) INE ART: More than 300 traditional line art illustrations were collected from a special Benedictine archive and […]

Jeff Ostrowski · November 30, 2019

Fr. Wasilewski: “Evil” to Remove Pachamama Idols

His argument about “theft”—such as removing pornography from a church where children might see it—is incorrect and dangerous.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 26, 2019

Are Choirmasters Allowed To Have A Bad Day?

By 1941, Horowitz had been playing Rachmaninov’s 3rd Concerto for 23 years…

Jeff Ostrowski · November 14, 2019

Dominican Priest Calls Gregorian Chant “Infantile”

Fr. Gerard Lessard is upset that millennials “seem to be mainly interested in returning to Gregorian chant and organ music of the distant past.”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 11, 2019

Video • What Are Common Hymn Melodies?

Short demonstrations by a volunteer parish choir!

Jeff Ostrowski · November 8, 2019

PDF Download • A Eucharistic Piece My Choir Loves

Including a “preview” of the forthcoming Brébeuf Hymnal SATB Choral Supplement.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 28, 2019

What Choirmasters Do.

In case you’re wondering: the photo on the upper right is me—taken on Saturday night.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Sanctus VIII” • Organ Accompaniment
    A few days ago, I composed this organ harmonization for SANCTUS VIII. This Mass is traditionally called Missa de ángelis or “Mass of the angels.” In French, it is Messe de Anges. You can evaluate my attempt to simultaneously accompany myself on the pipe organ (click here) while singing the melody. My parish is currently singing this setting.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (5th Sund. Ordinary Time)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for this coming Sunday, 8 February 2026, which is the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. You will probably notice it isn’t as ‘complete’ or ‘spiffy’ as usual, owing to some difficulties which took place this week.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Communion” (5th Sunday in Ordin.)
    The COMMUNION ANTIPHON for this coming Sunday, 8 February 2026—which is the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)—is truly delightful. You can download the musical score completely free of charge. This text will be familiar to altar boys, because it’s PSALM 42. The Feder Missal makes the following claim about that psalm: “A hymn of a temple musician from Jerusalem: he is an exile in a heathen land, and he longs for the holy city and his ministry in the Temple there. The Church makes his words her own.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Reminder” — Month of Febr. (2026)
    On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Chart • “Plainsong Rhythm”
    I will go to my grave without understanding the lack of curiosity so many people have about the rhythmic modifications made by Dom André Mocquereau. For example, how can someone examine this single sheet comparison chart and at a minimum not be curious about the differences? Dom Mocquereau basically creates a LONG-SHORT LONG-SHORT rhythmic pattern—in spite of enormous and overwhelming manuscript evidence to the contrary. That’s why some scholars referred to his method as “Neo-Mensuralist” or “Neo-Mensuralism.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “O Come All Ye Faithful” (Simplified)
    I admire the harmonization of “Adeste Fideles” by David Willcocks (d. 2015), who served as director of the Royal College of Music (London, England). In 2025, I was challenged to create a simplified arrangement for organists incapable of playing the authentic version at tempo. The result was this simplified keyboard arrangement (PDF download) based on the David Willcocks version of “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Feel free to play through it and let me know what you think.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“No living writer possesses a greater command over the English language than Msgr. Knox, but in this instance one cannot help feeling that he has allowed his virtuosity to get the better of him, and, in his anxiety to shield the holy of holies from vulgar intrusion, produced a text that would either pass over the listener’s head as completely as the original Latin, or else leave him groping so long after the meaning that he would be quite unable to keep pace with the officiating priest.”

— Dr. Herbert Patrick Reginald Finberg (University of Leicester)

Recent Posts

  • Pope Paul VI • “Sacrificium Laudis” (15 Aug 1966)
  • “Sanctus VIII” • Organ Accompaniment
  • PDF Download • Sanctus VIII Organ Accompaniment (“Mass of the Angels”)
  • Gorgeous Image of Monks Singing!
  • “Let the Choir Have a Voice” • Jeff Ostrowski’s Essay on Choral Music in the Catholic Mass

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