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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 · August 22, 2018

“Adoro Te Devote” • A Bad Translation in Hymnals

How can people claim this is a translation of the hymn by St. Thomas Aquinas?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 21, 2018

14th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“Now if God so clothe the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more you, O ye of little faith!”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 20, 2018

“Vatican II Hymnal” (1974) by Terry L. Haws

“It is also tragic to note that the hymnal was officially approved by the music commission of the Archdiocese of Seattle.” —Fr. Joseph Roff

Jeff Ostrowski · August 16, 2018

Rehearsal videos • “Gloria” by Father Victoria

How important is honesty?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 15, 2018

13th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“Have regard, O Lord, to Thy covenant, and forsake not to the end the souls of Thy poor.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 13, 2018

PDF Download • “Leeds Catholic Hymnal” (232 pages)

A hymnal out of print for fifty years has been scanned by Mr. Colin E. Jackson!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 7, 2018

PDF Download • “Sunday Vespers”

…including a failed descant from 1983.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 27, 2018

Remarkable Quote About Low Mass

It’s disturbing to realize that Mass was offered like this in some places.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 26, 2018

Puzzle • “Now Thank We All Our God”

Singular or Plural?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 25, 2018

1934 Footage • Gregorian Chant in Chicago

They sure did sing with gusto in those days!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 23, 2018

“Arundel Catholic Hymns” • Hymns Chosen and Edited by the Duke of Norfolk

“To the man of cultivated taste, they are displeasing—and in some cases even offensive…”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 22, 2018

Brébeuf Hymnal • “Behind the Scenes”

Creating a metrical translation like that, so very literal, is stupefyingly difficult.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 16, 2018

PDF Canon • “Non Nobis Domine” (William Byrd)

This Canon, attributed to William Byrd, was greatly admired by Beethoven and Mozart.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 11, 2018

Rehearsal videos • “Kyrie” by Josquin des Prez (d. 1521)

Recorded by participants at the 2018 Symposium!

Jeff Ostrowski · July 10, 2018

What Happens When A Choirmaster Gets Sad?

Our profession is not an easy one.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • Christ the King Sunday
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)
    I’d much rather hear an organist play a simplified version correctly than listen to wrong notes. I invite you to download this simplified organ accompaniment for hymn #729 in the Father Brébeuf Hymnal. The hymn is “O Jesus Christ, Remember.” I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole bunch of these, to help amateur organists. The last one I uploaded was downloaded more than 1,900 times in a matter of hours—so there seems to be interest in such a project. For the record, this famous text is often married to AURELIA, as it is in the Brébeuf Hymnal. The lyrics come from the pen of Father Edward Caswall (d. 1878), an Oratorian priest.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘Bogey’ of the Half-Educated: Paraphrase
    Father Adrian Porter, using the cracher dans la soupe example, did a praiseworthy job explaining the difference between ‘dynamic’ and ‘formal’ translation. This is something Monsignor Ronald Knox explained time and again—yet even now certain parties feign ignorance. I suppose there will always be people who pretend the only ‘valid’ translation of Mitigásti omnem iram tuam; avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ… would be “You mitigated all ire of you; you have averted from your indignation’s ire.” Those who would defend such a translation suffer from an unfortunate malady. One of my professors called it “cognate on the brain.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Reminder” — Month of November (2025)
    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. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)
    We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

In a meeting that took place on 23 July 2014, Pope Benedict told Father Josef Bisig, FSSP, that “Pope Saint John Paul II had the firm intention to personally bestow the episcopal consecration on an SSPX priest on 15 August 1988.”

— Libre entretien sur l’été 1988, Sedes Sapientiæ, issue 160, summer 2022

Recent Posts

  • Veni Emmanuel: An Argument for the Anglican Rhythm
  • PDF Download • “Hymn for Christ the King”
  • “Music List” • Christ the King Sunday
  • PDF Download • “Pope Pius XII Psalter” — English, Latin, and Commentary (532 pages)
  • “Simplified” Keyboard Accompaniment (PDF)

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