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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 · June 5, 2018

Sanctus & Benedictus • “Ave Maris Stella” (Victoria)

We’ve released rehearsal videos for the Kyrie—today, we release the Sanctus & Benedictus!

Jeff Ostrowski · June 4, 2018

CCW Receives Praise … on Television!

An excellent series on Church music

Jeff Ostrowski · May 31, 2018

Is The Brébeuf Hymnal Too Scrupulous?

Why so much deliberation over every choice? Why so much discussion about a single stanza, or even a single word?

Jeff Ostrowski · May 28, 2018

How Serious Are They About The Accent?

Mode 7 is one of the “tricky” psalm tones.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 28, 2018

Can Plainsong Be Harmonized? • (Rehearsal Video)

I included several nasty “Medicæa” harmonizations from the 19th century…

Jeff Ostrowski · May 22, 2018

Rehearsal videos • Missa “Ave Maris Stella” (Victoria)

The Alto line goes down low a few times—but in those days, men might have sung this.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 16, 2018

“Outer Space Hymn” (1966) • In A Catholic Hymnal

Discussion of horrible things that have (sadly) appeared in Catholic hymnals, such as: “And as we float along through outer space, | Past galaxies aglow in dark’s embrace, | Toward other worlds where brothers may await, | Do care for us now in our weightless state.” (Imprimatur 1966)+

Jeff Ostrowski · May 9, 2018

Los Angeles • Audio Excerpts from Solemn Mass

Posting choral singing captured by a pocket recorder is always risky…

Jeff Ostrowski · May 8, 2018

“Pater Noster” by Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel

A “contemporary” composer who’s inspired me since 1998.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 6, 2018

Saint Vitus Choir Page

You can still come to this page but the technical URL destination is now as follows: https://www.ccwatershed.org/2020/04/08/2022-revised-saint-vitus-choir-page/

Jeff Ostrowski · May 6, 2018

11:00am Choir Page

Our first rehearsal will be on Wednesday night, 27 January 2021, at 7:00pm at Saint Vitus. The first Mass we sing is 31 January 2021, call time 10:30am. The rest of the schedule: *  PDF Download • SCHEDULE for 11:00AM —This shows February and March. Learn “Kyrie IV” from the Père Daniel Website. #88208 • “Non […]

Jeff Ostrowski · May 1, 2018

PDF Download • A “Bright” Eucharistic Hymn

Could there be a nicer hymn than this? It is fresh and glorious.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 29, 2018

Yesterday’s Solemn Mass Was An Inflection Point

Consider three (3) clerics who took part in this Solemn Mass at the National Shrine

Jeff Ostrowski · April 24, 2018

Directing A Choir: Are You Tough Enough?

Your sense of humor says it all…

Jeff Ostrowski · April 5, 2018

“ Dissonance? ” • Gregorian Accompaniment

Nothing could be further from the truth!

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”
    Over the past few years, I’ve been harmonizing all the vernacular plainsong Introit settings by the CHAUMONOT COMPOSERS GROUP. This coming Sunday—10 May 2026—is the 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A). The following declaration will probably smack of “blowing my own horn.” However, I’d rank this accompaniment as my best yet. In this rehearsal video, I attempt to sing it while simultaneously accompanying myself on the pipe organ. The musical score [for singers] as well as my organ accompaniment can be downloaded free of charge from the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 4 May 2026
    A few days ago, the CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED Facebook page posted this Gregorian Chant quiz regarding a rubric for the SEQUENCE for the feast of Corpus Christi: “Lauda Sion Salvatórem.” There is no audience more intelligent than ours—yet surprisingly nobody has been able to guess the rubric. Drop me an email with the right answer, and I’ll affirm your brilliance to everyone I encounter!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Rare Photographs” • Hannibal Bugnini
    On 2 September 2025, we included in this article extremely rare photographs of Archbishop Hannibal Bugnini taken in Iran circa 1979. Bugnini had initially been banished by the pope to Uruguay, but he refused to obey. [This is interesting, since Bugnini relied upon ‘blind obedience’ when it came to modifications of the ancient liturgy.] After he refused to obey the order from the pope, Hannibal Bugnini was banished to Iran. You can also watch a short video of Hannibal Bugnini in Iran, dated 10 November 1979. That’s about a week after the USA embassy hostage crisis began in Tehran, and Pope Saint John Paul II had sent the leader of the Iranian Revolution a special letter.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)
    I published an article on 11 November 2023 called Wedding March For The Lazy Organist, which rather offhandedly made reference to a simplified version I created in 2007 for Pachelbel’s Canon. I often use it as a PROCESSIONAL for weddings and quinceañeras. Many organists say they “hate” Pachelbel’s Canon. But I love it. I think it’s bright and beautiful. I created that ‘simplified version’ for musicians coming to grips with playing the pipe organ. It can be downloaded as a free PDF if you visit Andrea Leal’s article dated 15 August 2022: Manuals Only: Organ Interludes Based on Plainsong. Specifically, it is page 84 in that collection—generously offered as a free PDF download. Johann Pachelbel (d. 1706) was a renowned German organist, violinist, teacher, and composer of over 500 works. A friend of Bach’s family, he taught Johann Christoph Bach (Sebastian Bach’s eldest brother) and lived in his house. Those who read Pachelbel’s biography will notice his connection to two German cities adopted as famous hymn tune names: EISENACH and ERFURT.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Anima Christi”
    I received a request for an organ accompaniment I created way back in 2007 for the “Anima Christi” Gregorian Chant. You can download this PDF file which has the score in plainsong followed by a keyboard accompaniment. Many melodies have been paired with “Anima Christi” over the centuries, but this is—perhaps—the most common one.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)
    On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The frequent elisions, as in the verse “Hoc óstium arcae in látere est Genti ad salútem pósitum” (feast of the Sacred Heart) make for an unpronounceable and unsingable hymn, and slightly less so does the hymn for Christ the King.

— Archbishop Hannibal Bugnini

Recent Posts

  • Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)
  • PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”
  • “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 4 May 2026
  • “Rare Photographs” • Hannibal Bugnini
  • “Regina Caeli” • More Than You Wanted To Know

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