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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 · February 26, 2020

PDF Download • “Hymnal of Christian Unity” (1964)

There’s something comforting about the Brébeuf hymnal translations, since they were created by Catholic priests.

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 24, 2020

“Notwithstanding all our troubles, we sing Mass” —1601 AD

Let’s remember this sentence when we are tempted to complain about our (holy) vocation providing music for Mass!

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 20, 2020

Absolutely Sensational Video About The Sacred Music Symposium!

It’s difficult to imagine a more breathtaking video—the beauty is staggering!

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 18, 2020

Magnificent Photograph! • Fr. Valentine With His Mother

He loved his mother dearly; photo circa 1956.

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 12, 2020

Protected: « Sundays after Pentecost »

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 11, 2020

Big News! • Symposium Dates Revealed

Woo Hoo! The preëminent conference for Church musicians announces dates for its fifth year!

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 11, 2020

Septuagesima Gradual • Strange Formation on Clivis

Is there a “jail” for people who change the official edition of Gregorian Chant?

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 7, 2020

“I’m hanging on every word.”—Catholic Organist Group

My friend, Richard J. Clark, sent me a screenshot from the “Catholic Organist Group.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 7, 2020

When Choirs Prefer A “Real Voice” To Midi

Only an insane person would post this publicly—but I “fit the bill”…so here goes!

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 6, 2020

Short But Superb Film • “Westminster Choir Boys”

The resignation of Martin Baker was quite a shock to the Catholic world.

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 6, 2020

PDF Download • “What Makes A Good Hymn?”

Dr. Terry says: “The melody must be clearly defined, free from triviality and trite clichés, avoiding harmonies that are sugary or sensuous.”

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 5, 2020

Protected: 3rd edition • Saint Edmund Campion Missal

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2020

PDF Download • “Ave Maris Stella” (Organ Accompaniment)

The 2nd part has blank staves, so you can compose your own harmonies!

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2020

Could Pope St. Pius X Sing?

“On 12 March 1908, the complete publication of the Roman Gradual was issued by the Vatican Press. On that very day, Dom Pothier solemnly presented the first copy to the Holy Father. A witness of the audience says that Pius X wished to be the first to see the new book; he opened it at […]

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Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2020

Julius Bas Accompaniment

A very prolific harmonizer of Gregorian chant in the early 20th century was Mr. Julius Bas. He often uses a very strange technique, wherein he employs rests to eliminate the Alto, Tenor, and Bass voices. Consider what he did with “Lumen ad revelationem” here: *  JPEG • Lumen ad revelationem It seems quite lazy, and I’ve […]

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Holy, Holy, Holy” transposed lower

    A simple setting based on a work by Canon Jules Vyverman.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (27th Sund. Ordinary Time)

    Readers have expressed interest in examining my “music list” for this coming Sunday: 4 October 2026

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    A Mystery! — Re: the “Liber Usualis”

    Even after all these years, nobody has been able to explain this.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Preface of Saint Joseph (added by the pope)

    You can see the “Præfatio de Sancto Joseph” inserted directly into the priest’s missal.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Predictable Rhymes?” • A Follow Up
    We received considerable correspondence regarding my article, Two Ways to Defile a Hymn. More specifically, what really raised certain people’s hackles was its follow-up article dealing with the keyboard accompaniment for the CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL. But to quote Eliza Doolittle: “Have I said anything I oughtn’t?” Please examine this PDF file and see whether you agree. Were the editors of the BRÉBEUF HYMNAL incorrect to insist upon sophisticated and clever rhymes, rather than mind-numbingly predictable rhymes?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘Ould’ But Not Good
    Dom Samuel Gregory Ould (note the spelling) was a Benedictine monk at FORT AUGUSTUS ABBEY in Scotland. As musician, organist, and composer, Dom Ould was highly regarded. Moreover, he was considered an authority on Gregorian Chant. But not everything found in an old book—or, in this case, an “Ould” book—is necessarily praiseworthy. Consider this page from Dom Ould’s hymnal. Do you see the rhymes? They offend severely by ABR (“Abuse By Reuse”) and are utterly predictable. In my recent article—Two Ways to Defile a Hymn—I addressed this topic.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Much of the reordering [in 1970] of the pieces of the Roman Gradual seems arbitrary and useless; nevertheless, with some exceptions, it does not affect the shape of the service, since like pieces are exchanged for like.”

— Dr. William Peter Mahrt

Recent Posts

  • “Holy, Holy, Holy” transposed lower
  • Music List • (27th Sund. Ordinary Time)
  • A Mystery! — Re: the “Liber Usualis”
  • A Popular “Gloria” … in Dutch?
  • From Rome • “International Week of Sacred Music”

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