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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 · May 24, 2024

PDF Download • “Saint Dunstan Hymnal” (158 pages)

How close are Anglicans to Catholics, in terms of their religious practices?

Jeff Ostrowski · May 22, 2024

Take the “Hymn Quiz!”

How well do you know hymnody? A few days ago, we recorded this really beautiful hymn as part of a Roman Catholic Spanish hymnal project we’re helping with. Can you name that tune? (We’re looking for the correct name of the melody.) If you give up—or if you want to verify your answer—click here for […]

Jeff Ostrowski · May 22, 2024

PDF • “Propers in figured notation”

Jennifer Urquhart wrote to us: “I’m currently involved in providing music for a non-specialist choir which will sing a TLM for the Sacred Heart. Since those propers changed in 1929, the one in the figured Liber Usualis (1924) now has the wrong texts.” Jennifer placed those propers into modern notation, which you can download as […]

Jeff Ostrowski · May 21, 2024

“Hail Redeemer, King Divine”

Click here to listen to our 100% volunteer choir singing this famous hymn without organ. By way of comparison, you can hear the same choir sing that hymn accompanied by the pipe organ if you click here. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Please feel free to email me and tell me which you like better.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 21, 2024

Choir Members Can’t Get Enough of This Piece

An English translation of “Veni Creator Spiritus.”

Jeff Ostrowski · May 20, 2024

ABC’s “The View” Attacks the Traditional Latin Mass

If you were arrested and charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Jeff Ostrowski · May 20, 2024

PDF Download • SATB “Kyrie” for Small Choirs

This SATB setting by Father Francisco Guerrero is brief but magnificent.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 19, 2024

When Dr. Calabrese Addressed Me Personally

Including a ‘live’ recording of the Church’s oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn, which comes from a 7th-century Irish manuscript.

Jeff Ostrowski · May 15, 2024

Documentation • “In the Olden Days, Was Vernacular Sung During Liturgical Services?”

Including a splendid harmonization of “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.”

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Jeff Ostrowski · May 13, 2024

Organ Accomp. • “Ascension Hymn at Vespers”

The soul-stirring hymn used on ASCENSION THURSDAY at Vespers—and also used on the Sunday which follows the Ascension—was called in the 7th century: “Jesu Nostra Redemptio.” After 1631AD, the title of that hymn was changed to “Salutis Humanae Sator.” The melody assigned by the Vatican Commission on Gregorian Chant is rather mournful (and very difficult […]

Jeff Ostrowski · May 10, 2024

“For The First Time” • Our Choir Sings In Spanish!

That changed last week!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 10, 2024

Hymn for the Ascension

Here is a ‘live’ recording from the Mass on Ascension Thursday (2024): Hymn for the Ascension. I could not be prouder of this parish choir, which consists 100% of volunteers. To learn more about this hymn, please visit #704 in the hymn portal. I have argued that—in addition to CARMEN GREGORIANUM, organ music, and polyphony—hymns […]

Jeff Ostrowski · May 10, 2024

“Praise To The Lord” • Simple Accomp.

In case you missed the full article I posted the other day on Views from the Choir Loft, feel free to download a PDF version of my simplified organ accompaniment for the famous hymn “Praise To The Lord,” which is often paired with LOBE DEN HERREN. I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole […]

Jeff Ostrowski · May 10, 2024

“Yes or No?” • Should We Give People the Sacred Music They Ardently Crave?

Some of them became “obsessed” with this SATB arrangement—𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑜𝑘𝑎𝑦!

Jeff Ostrowski · May 6, 2024

A Wonderful Woman Eviscerates The Argument Of An Infamous Liturgical Radical

Diekmann believed all the saints over the last 1,200 years—as well as the fathers of Vatican II—were dead wrong about the liturgy.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Season’s End Repertoire
    Looking at the REPERTOIRE SHEET until the end of the choral season, I see that I’ve fallen behind schedule. (The last three months have been extraordinarily busy.) As you know, I have been providing organ harmonies for all the ENTRANCE CHANTS—as well as rehearsal videos—and you can see I’m behind where I planned to be. Now I must make up lost ground. However, the choir picks up the ENTRANCE CHANT with ease, so I’m sure it will all work out. My ‘unofficial’ harmonizations are being posted each week at the flourishing feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Funeral Procession”
    From a mediæval Book of Hours, I was sent this glorious depiction of a Roman Catholic funeral procession by Simon Bening (d. 1561). The image resolution is extremely high. I’m not sure I know of a more beautiful illustration of a mediæval church. And I love how the servers are wearing red and pink cassocks!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Accomp. • Schubert’s “Ave Maria.”
    Sometimes the organist must simultaneously serve as the CANTOR. (Those who work in the field of church music know exactly what I’m talking about.) One of our contributors composed this simplified keyboard accompaniment for Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” a piece which is frequently requested for Catholic funerals and weddings. In terms of the discussion about whether that piece is too theatrical (‘operatic’) for use in Church, I will leave that discussion to others. All I know is, many church musicians out there will appreciate this simplified version.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    PDF Download • “Anima Christi”
    I received a request for an organ accompaniment I created way back in 2007 for the “Anima Christi” Gregorian Chant. You can download this PDF file which has the score in plainsong followed by a keyboard accompaniment. Many melodies have been paired with “Anima Christi” over the centuries, but this is—perhaps—the most common one.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF • “Liturgical Law” (467 Pages)
    On Good Friday during the middle ages, the pope privately recited THE ENTIRE PSALTER. If you don’t believe me, see for yourself by reading this passage by Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen (d. 1943). His famous book—called “Liturgical Law: A Handbook Of The Roman Liturgy”—was published by the Benjamin Herder Book Company, which was the American arm (operating out of St. Louis, Missouri) of one of the world’s most significant Catholic publishers. Dom Charles Augustine Bachofen was born in Switzerland but spent his career between the Benedictine monasteries at Conception (Missouri) and Mount Angel (Oregon). His 1931 masterpiece, Liturgical Law can be downloaded as a PDF file … 467 pages!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “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

Random Quote

“I have, on the other hand, retained several more or less traditional tunes, absolutely valueless and without merit from a musical point of view, but which seem to have become a necessity if a book is to appeal—as I hope this one will—to the varied needs of various churches.”

— A. Edmonds Tozer (1905)

Recent Posts

  • “Translating the Bible” • Msgr. Ronald Knox (1953)
  • Season’s End Repertoire
  • PDF Download • “Funeral Procession”
  • Re: The “Correct” Way To Sing Gregorian Chant
  • PDF Download • Ascension “Entrance Chant”

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