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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 · December 14, 2015

Why Don’t Serious Catholics Address This?

If you want to test the USCCB policy, try this experiment.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 10, 2015

Rehearsal Videos • Victoria’s “Ave Maria” (SATB)

Including six reasons why Tomás Luis de Victoria may be the true composer of this piece.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 7, 2015

Rehearsal Videos • “O Magnum Mysterium” (Victoria)

With a masterpiece like this, we must be careful not to rush in where angels fear to tread.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 7, 2015

Propers for Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 December)

Providing music for the Traditional Latin Mass is not nearly as hard as some believe.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 5, 2015

Musical Resources • Second Sunday of Advent (Extraordinary Form)

“Gather ye together His Saints to Him; who have set His covenant before sacrifices…”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 2, 2015

Introit For The Immaculate Conception (8 December)

“Gaudens Gaudebo” is not a short Introit.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 1, 2015

The Most Important Thing A Choirmaster Can Do

Sometimes it takes decades to appreciate the genius of this or that Gregorian chant.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 30, 2015

Changing The Good Friday Prayer For The Jews

“Christianity is the perfect development of the Jewish religion…” —Fr. Leslie Rumble

Jeff Ostrowski · November 29, 2015

Musical Resources • First Sunday of Advent (Extraordinary Form)

“Arise in thy strength, we beseech thee, O Lord, and come…”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 27, 2015

Clarity Regarding The Pius XII “Turkey” Indult

Whether this rumor is accurate makes no difference, because the rules for Friday abstinence were changed in the 1960s.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 24, 2015

Our Church Music Movement: How Are We Doing?

I never dreamed that so many people love this stuff…and are willing to fight for it!

Jeff Ostrowski · November 19, 2015

PDF Download • Hymnal by Fr. John Selner (1954)

Some of the old Catholic hymnals were dreadful, but this one is splendid.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 18, 2015

PDF Download • “Liber Brevior” (1954)

This special Solesmes book contains another version of the “Chants Abrégés.”

Jeff Ostrowski · November 17, 2015

Sacred Music & Babies

What’s our end game?

Jeff Ostrowski · November 16, 2015

Solesmes is not infallible…

The accent on “adjúva” should be “ádjuva”

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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

“The main place should be given, all things being equal, to gregorian chant, as being proper to the roman Liturgy. Other kinds of sacred music, in particular polyphony, are in no way excluded, provided that they correspond to the spirit of the liturgical action and that they foster the participation of all the faithful.”

— ‘2011 GIRM, §41 (Roman Missal, 3rd Edition)’

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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