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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 · February 15, 2018

Phone Interview • Fr. Guy Nicholls, Cong. Orat.

The Blessed John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music (England) has a big announcement!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 13, 2018

Hymn Tunes That Are Actually The Same

Look carefully at this image…

Jeff Ostrowski · February 12, 2018

“Live Excerpts” … With One Rehearsal

This is something we will do again, because I think there’s great potential here.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 9, 2018

How Medieval Books Were Made

Absolutely *fascinating* beyond words!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 8, 2018

Brave Schola Director Posts “Live” Recording 1

…recorded on 28 January 2018.

Jeff Ostrowski · February 1, 2018

Video • Ratzinger made a Cardinal by Paul VI

Quite beautiful, but I prefer a different harmonization of “Holy God We Praise Thy Name”…

Jeff Ostrowski · February 1, 2018

Sexagesima Sunday (Extraordinary Form)

“Now they upon the rock are they who when they hear, receive the word with joy…”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2018

PDF Download • “Agnus Dei” … for Lent

…including rehearsal videos for each individual voice!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 26, 2018

Septuagesima Sunday (Extraordinary Form)

“The groans of death surround me, the sorrows of hell encompassed me…”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 24, 2018

English Prayers at EF Mass • How old are they?

The English translation memorized by “Latin Mass” Catholics goes back centuries!

Jeff Ostrowski · January 22, 2018

PDF Download • Dom Pothier Biography (1947)

“Dom Pothier himself acted as an illustrator, decorating his work with vignettes, illuminated capitals, tailpieces, even full-page illustrations representing the mysteries of the Annunciation and Christmas.”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 19, 2018

PDF • “Hosanna” Catholic Hymnal (285 Pages)

“Many choirs of children still use hymnals that are wretched from a musical and ecclesiastical standpoint…” —Fr. Ludwig Bonvin

Jeff Ostrowski · January 18, 2018

3rd Sunday after Epiphany (Extraordinary Form)

“…and behold a leper came and adored Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt Thou canst make me clean.”

Jeff Ostrowski · January 17, 2018

Spanish Subtitles Added • Absolutely Superb!

The interviews with young Catholics are truly awesome.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 11, 2018

PDF Download • Easy Hymn with Melody in Tenor

The Brébeuf hymnal contains carefully chosen and flexible melodies; do you see how the following tune (“Old Hundredth”) can be used in the Tenor voice?

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”
    Liturgical reformers who gained power after Vatican II frequently caused great suffering to musicians. With the stroke of a pen, they sometimes make changes that would require thousands—or even millions—of man hours (work undertaken by composers and editors). The Sprinkling Rite during Eastertide is but one tiny example. The version given in that PDF document was the original melody for Roman Missal, Third Edition. Some still prefer that version. However, at the last moment, an “unknown hand” tinkered with a few notes in the antiphon. Those who examine the current edition can verify this with their own eyes.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘Sarum’ Good Friday?
    Plainsong of the Roman Rite has many variants—i.e. slight ‘variations’ or ‘alterations’ made to the ancient melodies. Variants often thrive in particular religious orders. Likewise, before Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church, Gregorian Chant variants were frequently associated with individual cathedrals in England: Hereford, Lincoln, Salisbury, and so forth. In the early 20th century, the (Anglican) organist at Westminster Abbey married “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” to this beautiful variant melody from England. Those who sing Gregorian Chant on Good Friday will recognize the melody. What do you think of this pairing?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”
    Gustav Adolf Merkel (d. 1885) was a German organist, teacher, and composer. Although a Lutheran himself, he held the appointment at the (Roman Catholic) Cathedral of Dresden from 1864 until his death. You can download his Organ Postlude in E-Flat, which I like very much. He has an interesting way of marking the pedal notes. What do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“No one can reasonably find in the dispositions of Vatican II anything out of order, or any extreme opinions or tendencies which restrict the function of sacred music exclusively to the congregational singing of the faithful or on the other hand which replace or eliminate the singing of the congregation entirely by the singing of the choir.”

— Most Rev’d Archbishop D.M.M. y Gómez, Primate of Mexico (at that time, the world’s largest archdiocese)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Sprinkling Rite”
  • ‘Sarum’ Good Friday?
  • Gregorian Chant • The “Correct” Way of Singing ?
  • PDF Download • “Eb Organ Postlude”
  • Fulton J. Sheen • “24-Hour Catechism”

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