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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 · September 23, 2024

Priest Demands Musician’s Resignation • (No Reason Given)

“Our priest was delighted with the program, or so it appeared. During Holy Week he asked me to resign (which I did). He gave no reason and would not even discuss the issue.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 19, 2024

Music List • (25th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in looking over the “music list” I have prepared for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 16, 2024

“Entrance Chant” • For Sunday (22-Sep-2024)

This one’s in Mode 4—and it imitates the authentic Gregorian chant in a magnificent way.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 14, 2024

A Real Advantage!

Before the internet, certain translators could easily “pull the wool over” unsuspecting eyes.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 12, 2024

Music List • (24th Sund. Ordinary Time)

Readers have expressed interest in looking over the “music list” I have prepared for this coming Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 11, 2024

Musical Setting • “Confíteor Déo Omnipoténti”

The participants went nuts over this musical setting. They just couldn’t get enough of it!

Jeff Ostrowski · September 10, 2024

PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Plainchant in English)

Today I discuss a myth about accompanying plainsong on the pipe organ.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 7, 2024

Music List • (23rd Sund. Ordinary Time)

This coming Sunday (8 September 2024) is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. Some have expressed interest in seeing my “ORDER OF MUSIC.” If such a thing be appealing to you, it can be downloaded as a PDF file.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 6, 2024

Communion • (23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time)

This coming Sunday (23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time) we’re singing the Communion antiphon in English as adapted by the SISTERS OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD (O’Fallon, Missouri). Their enormous body of work is usually referred to as The O’Fallon Propers. Click here to download this Communion as a PDF file. (For the record, I couldn’t […]

Jeff Ostrowski · September 6, 2024

“Spanish Entrance Hymn” • (You Might Enjoy This)

Javier R. wrote to us: “One thing that caught my eye—and which I’ve been wrestling with—is how to fit Hymns with Antiphons, especially during the entrance procession.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 5, 2024

“Entrance Chant” • For Sunday (8-Sep-2024)

Coming up fast is Sunday, 8 September 2024, which is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Here’s the PDF file for the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON—in Gregorian notation on five lines—which we’ll be singing. You can also download this organ accompaniment which corresponds to that file. Plainchant scholars will be interested in the ancient version it mimics […]

Jeff Ostrowski · August 31, 2024

Musical Lineup • (22nd Sund. Ordinary Time)

Jeff’s musical lineup for Sunday, 1 September 2024.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 30, 2024

PDF • “Lamb of God” Harmonization

Harmonized—and carefully notated—in Spanish, English, and Latin.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 30, 2024

Repository • “Spanish Order of Music” (Sainte Marie)

I’ve been creating these for our Spanish Masses. They aren’t perfect—but I’ve also seen worse.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 30, 2024

Leaked Document! • Comparison Chart—New Responsorial Psalms (“Abbey Psalms & Canticles”)

The NAB tried to use “overly casual” language—and the results are often an abomination.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Music List • (3rd Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 3rd Sunday of Lent (8 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has magnificent propers. Its stern INTROIT (“Óculi mei semper ad Dóminum”) is breathtaking, and the COMMUNION (“Qui bíberit aquam”) with its fauxbourdon verses is wonderful. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Samaritánæ” (3rd Sunday of Lent)
    With regard to the COMMUNION for the 3rd Sunday of Lent (Year A), the Ordo Cantus Missae—which was published in 1969 by the Vatican, bearing Hannibal Bugnini’s signature and approbation in its PREFACE—inexplicably introduced a variant melody and slightly different words, as you can see by this comparison chart. When it comes to such items, they’re always done in secrecy by unnamed people. (Although it is known that Dom Eugène Cardine collaborated in the creation of the GRADUALE SIMPLEX, a book considered by some to be a travesty.)
    —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

Quick Thoughts

    “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation
    It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”
    —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
    Grotesque Pairing • “Passion Chorale”
    One of our rarest releases was undoubtably this PDF scan of the complete Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) by Father Joseph Roff, a student of Healey Willan. One of the scarcest titles in existence, this book was provided to us by Mr. Peter Meggison. Back in 2018, we scanned each page and uploaded it to our website, making it freely available to everyone. Readers are probably sick of hearing me say this, but just because we upload something that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wonderful or worthy of imitation. We upload many publications precisely because they are ‘grotesque’, interesting, or revealing. Whereas the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal had an editorial board that was careful and sensitive vis-à-vis pairing texts with tunes, the Pope Pius XII Hymnal (1959) seems to have been rather reckless in this regard. Please take a look at what they did with the PASSION CHORALE and see whether you agree.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The “Nova Organi Harmonia” demanded from each of us an unusual commitment; we have dedicated to it the best of our energies. Would it be, therefore, presumptuous on our part to be satisfied with the result and to expect its welcome reception in the musical world?

— Msgr. Jules Van Nuffel (circa 1940)

Recent Posts

  • “Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation
  • PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
  • Music List • (3rd Sunday of Lent)
  • “National Survey” (Order of Christian Funerals) • By the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship
  • “Samaritánæ” (3rd Sunday of Lent)

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