Eucharistic Hymn by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Using a favorite melody of Dr. Theodore Marier.
“Mixing” Your Singers? • Just Do It!
Not long ago, I posted an Agnus Dei for Three Voices by William Byrd (d. 1623). When we sing the “Agnus Dei” at Mass, I often have the singers mix up, so they’re not standing next to someone singing their part. In my experience, this technique does wonders for tuning. Here’s a live excerpt (Mp3) […]
“Can No One Defend This?” • Why Everyone Should Sing From the Official Edition
I can never go back!
Jeff Ostrowski’s Discovery • (Does Anyone Care?)
Feel free to examine every single page if you doubt what I’m saying!
8 Sept. 2023 • Charles Rosen on Bach!
Charles Rosen was a concert pianist who published insightful books about various musical topics. I believe our readers will enjoy this 27-minute presentation on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Not everything Mr. Rosen says is true. (For instance, Rosen was not the first pianist to record the ART OF THE FUGUE on the piano. […]
7 Sept. 2023 • Alphabetized Hymnals?
One could be forgiven for believing that arranging hymns in alphabetical order would make them easier to find. Believe it or not, that’s actually one of the worst decisions an editor could make. This very brief video explains why.
Natalia’s Message • “Explaining The Two Sections!”
If you asked random Catholics to recite in English—without reference to a book—a stanza from the “Tantum Ergo” of Saint Thomas Aquinas, how many do you think could?
Does It Make Sense to Alphabetize Hymnals?
Perhaps you’re saying to yourself: “Jeff comes across as super ungrateful.”
When Others Say You’re “Dumb”
I could give a zillion more examples of my disability.
Are You A Professional? • (Am I One?)
Including a Eucharistic Hymn (#142) every Catholic should know!
“Momentous Release!” • Freakishly Rare Gradual & Vesperal Published by Pothier’s Protégé (1,638 pages!)
He screamed into the telephone: “There’s no such thing as Gregorian Chant!”
PDF Download • “Alleluia Verse before Gospel” • (Mass in honor of Saint Noël Chabanel)
Instead, Saint Francis knelt down and kissed the priest’s hands…
27 August 2023 • Nine Merry Men!
Half a decade has passed since nine (9) colleagues from Corpus Christi Watershed contributed texts, melodies, and harmonizations to a special hymn book in honor of North America’s patron saint, Father John Brébeuf. The website promoting it was massively overdue for a facelift. As of a few minutes ago, I can report that it’s been […]
24 August 2023 • FEEDBACK
From a female choirmaster: “Thank you for your recent article, Jeff. We here in _____ absolutely love our Brébeuf hymnals! They have saved my life as a choir director! ☺️ The ease with which my choir members plunge into a new hymn using the ‘common melodies technique’ is so wonderful. You can see the relief on […]
Natalia’s Message • “Hymn Verses Written Out!”
The cruelest thing you can do to anyone is…