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 · May 12, 2015

Heretical Hymns & Transformation

I hope Dr. Tappan will tell us someday how such a transformation happened!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 11, 2015

Stunning Hymn With 3-Voice Polypony You Will Want To Sing For Pentecost

A story about Victoria—perhaps a myth—says Palestrina was jealous of his student’s first drafts.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 11, 2015

VIDEO • Watch Jeff Ostrowski Load Choir Binders

Wow—did you ever see anyone load them this fast?

Jeff Ostrowski · May 10, 2015

Resources • 5th Sunday after Easter (1962 Missal)

We are getting close to Pentecost, when the FSSP Superior General will visit our parish.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 5, 2015

The Actual Vestments Of Pope Saint Pius V

Let’s be honest…those shoes look nice and comfy!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 4, 2015

Video • “Vidi Aquam” Organ Accompaniment By Jeff Ostrowski

The “Method of Gregorian Accompaniment” by Flor Peeters is excellent.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 1, 2015

Twelve (12) PDF Guides To Pronouncing Latin

Fr. Carlo Rossini’s is probably the best, but 11 more are also provided.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 1, 2015

Resources • 4th Sunday after Easter (1962 Missal)

The Communion can be written “Dum venerit” or “Cum venerit”—both are correct.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 1, 2015

In This Regard, The EF Cannot Compare To The OF

If you’re searching for “Cum vénerit Paráclitus,” you might want to check the *D* section…

Jeff Ostrowski · April 30, 2015

Liturgy Gone Wild

What do progressive liturgists truly want?

Jeff Ostrowski · April 29, 2015

Liturgical Silence—But Not What You Think!

When I was young, I would have tried to argue.

Jeff Ostrowski · April 29, 2015

Rare Video • Richard Nixon Meets With Pope Paul VI

Footage taken by John Ehrlichman a 1970s “home video reel.”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 28, 2015

PDF Download • “The Parish Hymnal” (1957)

“The origins of some are not known due to the long and nearly untraceable popular usage they have enjoyed.” —Gregorian Institute

Jeff Ostrowski · April 27, 2015

PDF Download • “Hymns Of The Roman Liturgy” (Rev. Joseph Connelly, 1955)

“These samples from Connelly make less sense in English than the Latin originals would to a North Korean.” —Msgr. Francis P. Schmitt

Jeff Ostrowski · April 27, 2015

Brave Schola Director Posts “Live” Recording • Part 2

We’re having a lot of fun…is that bad?

“Music List” • 1st Sunday of Lent

Some have expressed interest in perusing the “ORDER OF MUSIC” I prepared for the 1st Sunday of Lent, Year C (9 March 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. During Lent, the pipe organ is greatly reduced. Therefore, I marked a red “X” on all the pieces we’re singing a cappella.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Kyrie Setting” we’re doing for Lent

During Lent, we’re singing the KYRIE polyphony from the Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel. There are various pieces of information (and variations) on that website. Therefore, to make it easy to find—since choirs appreciate “no hassle” scores—here are the parts: (a) The Ordinary Form musical score (PDF) is based on the EF score; (b) Soprano Voice rehearsal video is here; (c) Alto Voice rehearsal video is here; (d) Tenor Voice rehearsal video is here; (e) Bass Voice rehearsal video is here; (f) Equal Voices rehearsal video is here.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord…”

The Communion antiphon for this coming Sunday is quite beautiful (PDF). I’m not sure I know any other feast which does what the 1st Sunday of Lent does. Specifically, the text for the COMMUNION is identical to the OFFERTORY, except the word “Dóminus” is understood in the Communion. The INTROIT, GRADUALE, and TRACT also use that same psalm: viz. Psalm 90.

—Jeff Ostrowski

The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum

Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.

—Daniel Tucker

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music).

—Corpus Christi Watershed

The Lofty Nature of This Goal

It is important above all that we never lose sight of our true goal as church musicians: the right worship of Almighty God. This is not a pious sentiment that should cause us to be lax about technical elements of music. Rather, the lofty nature of this goal is should motivate and inspire us to pursue the techne of musicianship with even greater zeal.

—Dr. Samuel Backman