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Corpus Christi Watershed

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 · July 9, 2019

Hymn Harmony: Fifty Examples—Good and Bad!

We will not be considering musically absurd examples from the past.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 4, 2019

Accompanying Gregorian Chant: “Counter-Melody”

Do you hear the little counter-melody added by the organist to several verses?

Jeff Ostrowski · July 3, 2019

(Live Recording) • Hymn by Richard J. Clark

Recordings from Symposium 2019 are beginning to appear!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 19, 2019

Symposium Booklets Have Arrived!

Anyone can write articles saying: “Church music must improve”—but actually getting one’s hands dirty? That’s different…

Jeff Ostrowski · June 12, 2019

PDF Download • Symposium Booklet (159 pages)

…probably unlike any musical booklet you’ve come across!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 11, 2019

Secrets Revealed

…perhaps more slowly than one would prefer, but finally the secret is beginning to leak!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 10, 2019

PDF Download • Vespers Organ Accompaniments

Do you understand why some of the harmonies are blank?

Jeff Ostrowski · June 7, 2019

Where Did “Do-Re-Mi” Come From?

A concise and clear explanation from a 1957 book…

Jeff Ostrowski · June 4, 2019

PDF Download • “Magnificat” + Rehearsal Videos!

“You think I’m kidding, but I’m not. I know of no greater piece than this.” —Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski · May 30, 2019

Learn To Sing SATB • “A New Approach!”

Twelve (12) hymns are already available, with tons more on the way!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 29, 2019

What Makes A “Catholic” Hymnal?

I find the following pairings reprehensible…

Jeff Ostrowski · May 23, 2019

PDF Download • Palestrina “Gloria” w/ practice videos!

Careful: the Alto line is surprisingly difficult!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 17, 2019

PDF Download • Franz Liszt and Gregorian Chant

Many would ask: “What is the purpose of posting such books? Are we supposed to sing from them?” • It turns out, these editions help us understand the journey of Franz Liszt to understand Gregorian modality.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 16, 2019

How Do You Mark Starting Pitches?

Some might ask: “Why not just write the name of the note?”

Jeff Ostrowski · May 8, 2019

1941 Mass (Chicago) mixed with 2017 Mass (FSSP)

I can’t remember if I ever released this “comparison” video…

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Which Mass?
    In 1905, when the Vatican Commission on Gregorian Chant began publishing the EDITIO VATICANA—still the Church’s official edition— they assigned different Masses to different types of feasts. However, they were careful to add a note (which began with the words “Qualislibet cantus hujus Ordinarii…”) making clear “chants from one Mass may be used together with those from others.” Sadly, I sometimes worked for TLM priests who weren’t fluent in Latin. As a result, they stubbornly insisted Mass settings were ‘assigned’ to different feasts and seasons (which is false). To understand the great variety, one should examine the 1904 KYRIALE of Dr. Peter Wagner. One should also look through Dom Mocquereau’s Liber Usualis (1904), in which the Masses are all mixed up. For instance, Gloria II in his book ended up being moved to the ‘ad libitum’ appendix in the EDITIO VATICANA.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Like! Like! Like!
    You won’t believe who recently gave us a “like” on the Corpus Christi Watershed FACEBOOK PAGE. Click here (PDF) to see who it was. We were not only sincerely honored, we were utterly flabbergasted. This was truly a resounding endorsement and unmistakable stamp of approval.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Atténde Dómine”
    Although it isn’t nearly as ancient as other hymns in the plainsong repertoire, Atténde Dómine, et miserére, quía peccávimus tíbi (“Look down, O Lord, and have mercy, for we have sinned against Thee”) has become one of the most popular hymns for LENT—perhaps because it was included in the famous Liber Usualis of Solesmes. This musical score (PDF file) has an incredibly accurate version in English, as well as a nice version in Spanish, and also the original Latin. Although I don’t claim to have a great singing voice, this morning I recorded this rehearsal video.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Extreme Unction
    Those who search Google for “CCCC MS 079” will discover high resolution images of a medieval Pontificale (“Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 079”). One of the pages contains this absolutely gorgeous depiction of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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

“Of course, the Latin language presents some difficulties, and perhaps not inconsiderable ones, for the new recruits to your holy ranks. But such difficulties, as you know, should not be reckoned insuperable. This is especially true for you, who can more easily give yourselves to study, being more set apart from the business and bother of the world.”

— Pope Saint Paul VI (15 August 1966)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Funerals in the Ordinary Form”
  • Extreme Unction
  • Which Mass?
  • Like! Like! Like!
  • PDF Download • “Pange Lingua” in Simple (Contemporary) Polyphony for Three Voices

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