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Corpus Christi Watershed

We’re a 501(c)3 public charity established in 2006. We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and run no advertisements. We exist solely by the generosity of small donors.

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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 · August 25, 2014

Pope John Paul II Wearing The Cappa Magna (As Cardinal Wojtyla)

The most marvelous uniform I’ve seen was the one worn by Prince Charles when he married Diana.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 25, 2014

NBC “Meet The Press” & Catholic Church Music

At the program’s conclusion, I felt dumber than when I’d started watching.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 24, 2014

Photo: Church Music Association of America (1964)

This historic photograph was taken at the organizational meeting for the CMAA the same year “Inter Oecumenici” was issued by the Vatican.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 21, 2014

How To Debunk Four Common Liturgical Myths

The priest returned to the Altar, removed the big red Missal, carried it to the pulpit, and proceeded to translate the entire Gospel into English.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 19, 2014

Kirsten Powers & The Hound of Heaven

“I’ll never forget standing outside that apartment and saying to myself, ‘It’s true. It’s completely true.’ … I had not one iota of doubt. I was filled with indescribable joy.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 18, 2014

Breaking News! Pope Francis Refuses To Adopt “Narrative” Of Progressive Liturgists

That Tablet article could best be described as ill-informed gossip from an unqualified author with too much time on his hands…

Jeff Ostrowski · August 14, 2014

CALLING ALL PRIESTS! —Your Parishioners Are Waiting… They’re Waiting For…

“Before the Council, liturgical law was regarded as something sacred; but everyone now feels authorized to do what he likes…” — Cardinal Antonelli (24 July 1968)

Jeff Ostrowski · August 12, 2014

Some Thoughts On “Englishing” Gregorian Chant

But why bring up this subject at all, when probably 95% of Catholic priests have no familiarity with Gregorian chant? • concerning the challenges of composing Gregorian chant in English+

Jeff Ostrowski · August 11, 2014

Important Resources for Liturgical Reform (4 of 7)

Should Church music be fun? Yes!!!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 11, 2014

Mass Propers In English

Roosevelt was President while paralyzed. Churchill gave speeches but couldn’t pronounce “S” correctly. Surely, then, we can implement the Mass Propers with these 11 collections! • the Graduale Romanum has been set in English by many composers; here are some collections with audio samples+

Jeff Ostrowski · August 10, 2014

The Most Insane Thing Heard By Anyone

I used to think Horowitz’s additions to the Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody were the most amazing virtuoso display I ever heard. I was wrong.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 6, 2014

Did The Ancient Mass Really Have Three Readings?

“We are repeatedly assured that there was an Old Testament reading each Sunday morning, but that quite mysteriously these all vanished by the seventh century, and vanished leaving no memory that they had ever existed…” — Fr. John Parsons

Jeff Ostrowski · August 5, 2014

Five Questions No Liturgist Can Answer

“The present welter of discardable booklets, mimeographed sheets, divergent paperback hymnals, and so on … has unfortunate psychological effects.” — Dr. James Hitchcock

Jeff Ostrowski · August 5, 2014

Intercession by saints? Why not go directly to God?

If I didn’t answer when he called, he’d keep calling my number over and over. If I still didn’t answer, he’d start calling my family members, including siblings who lived 900+ miles away!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 3, 2014

Please Help Watershed Survive

I hate asking people for money; and some Catholic organizations drive me crazy by constantly begging with an alarmist manner.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
    With each passing day, more is revealed about how the enemies of the liturgy accomplished their goals. For instance, Hannibal Bugnini deeply resented the way Vatican II said Gregorian Chant “must be given first place in liturgical services.” On 6 November 1966, his cadre wrote a letter attempting to justify the elimination of Gregorian Chant with this brazen statement: “What really gives a Mass its tone is not so much the songs as it is the prayers and readings.” Bugnini’s cadre then attacked the very heart of Gregorian Chant (viz. the Proprium Missae), bemoaning how the Proprium Missae “is completely new each Sunday and feast day.” There is much more to be said about this topic. Stay tuned.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Luis Martínez Must Go!
    Sevilla Cathedral (entry dated 13 December 1564): The chapter orders Luis Martínez, a cathedral chaplain, to stay away from the choirbook-stand when the rest of the singers gather around it to sing polyphony—the reason being that “he throws the others out of tune.” [Excerpt from “The Life of Father Francisco Guerrero.”]
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Urgent! • We Desperately Need Funds!
    A few days ago, the president of Corpus Christi Watershed posted this urgent appeal for funds. Please help us make sure we’re never forced to place our content behind a paywall. We feel it’s crucial that 100% of our content remains free to everyone. We’re a tiny 501(c)3 public charity, entirely dependent upon the generosity of small donors. We have no endowment and no major donors. We run no advertisements and have no savings. We beg you to consider donating $4.00 per month. Thank you!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“We wish to express the hope that students of Gregorian Chant come back to the pure Vatican Edition, in the ancient block-note form, without the addition of any signs whatever, in order to achieve Gregorian unity.”

— Josef Gogniat (12 March 1938)

Recent Posts

  • Bugnini’s Statement (6 November 1966)
  • (Rehearsal Clips) • Sacred Music Symposium 2025
  • Hidden Gem: Ascendit Deus (Dalitz)
  • PDF Download • Soprano Descant — “Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above”
  • “Dom Jausions had a skilled hand. His transcriptions are masterpieces of neatness & precision.”

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Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

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