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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 20, 2024

Rorate Caeli + ICEL + Dynamic Equivalence

There’s an old adage: “Once stung, twice shy.”

Jeff Ostrowski · December 19, 2024

“Music List” (4th Sunday of Advent, Year C)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the “music list” I’ve prepared for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 19, 2024

“Entrance Chant” • 4th Sunday of Advent

Like so many Advent antiphons, this one is in the first mode and comes from the prophet Isaiah.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 18, 2024

Communion (4th Sunday of Advent)

It certainly seems like most of the Advent antiphons come from the book of Isaiah…

Jeff Ostrowski · December 18, 2024

PDF Download • New Version of “What Child Is This” (SATB) … as of 18 December 2024

A different version was requested. I was able to complete that task earlier today.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 17, 2024

PDF Download • “Order of Music” (Funerals)

I have made some changes to my “musical list” for funerals.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 17, 2024

PDF Download • “The First Nowell” in Latin — Simplified Version (2024) for Choir & Organ

If you have items you’d like to learn (such as how to make multi-track rehearsal videos) please email them to us.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 15, 2024

‘Live’ Audio Sample (Dec. 2024)

It’s ‘live’—so you can hear babies crying, the sound of the priest incensing the altar, and so forth.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 14, 2024

PDF • “Music List” for the 3rd Sunday of Advent

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the “music list” I’ve prepared for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 13, 2024

PDF Download • “What Child Is This?” (SATB arr.)

In my view, this one falls within the “Top Ten” list of Christmas carols.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 12, 2024

CCW • Appeal at Year’s End

As 2024 comes to a close, we could really use your financial support…

Jeff Ostrowski · December 11, 2024

Richard J. Clark Featured in ‘Boston Pilot’ Newspaper: “Our Children & Sacred Music”

“My most important vocation is not that of a musician but as a husband and a father to my four children.” —Richard J. Clark

Jeff Ostrowski · December 10, 2024

Re: Sacred Music Symposium 2025

Since a new month has arrived, it’s my pleasure to remind you that…

Jeff Ostrowski · December 8, 2024

“Entrance Chant” • 3rd Sunday of Advent

This Introit is in the first mode.

Jeff Ostrowski · December 7, 2024

For The Record …

It strikes me as quite “Adventy”—for lack of a better term.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
    In 2003, I copied a book by Félix Bélédin (d. 1895), who was titular organist—from 1841 to 1874—at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Lyon (France). In 2008, we scanned and uploaded the book to the Lalande Online Library. Nobody knows for sure when the book was published; some believe it first appeared in the 1840s. In any event, one who examines this excerpt, showing GLORIA IX might wonder why it says the organ answers in plainsong. However, the front of the book explains, telling the organist explicitly when to “respond in plainchant.” This is something called organ alternatim. Believe it or not, the pipe organ would take turns with the choir, playing certain texts instrumentally instead of having them sung. I’m not very well-versed in this—pardon the pun—but if memory serves, ORGAN ALTERNATIM was frowned upon by the time of Pope Saint Pius X. Nevertheless, French organists kept doing it, even after it was explicitly condemned as an abuse.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Traditionally, this Sunday was called ‘Passion’ Sunday. Starting in 1956, certain church leaders attempted rename both ‘Passion’ Sunday and ‘Palm’ Sunday—but it didn’t work. For example, Monsignor Frederick McManus tried to get people to call PALM SUNDAY “Second Passion Sunday”—but the faithful rejected that. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —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

“Indeed, we may not hope for real Latin poetry any more, because Latin is now a dead language to all of us. However well a man may read, write, or even speak Latin now, it is always a foreign language to him, acquired artificially. It is no one’s mother tongue. Does a man ever write real poetry in an acquired language?”

— Rev’d Adrian Fortescue (d. 1923)

Recent Posts

  • Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
  • “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
  • “Versions of the Psalter” • Jeff Interviews Top Biblical Scholar: Dr. Mark Giszczak
  • PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
  • Summer 2026 • “Gregorian Chant Course” at Aquinas College (Nashville, TN)

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