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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 13, 2023

Why Sing? • Byrd Answers!

Make sure to click on the recent article by Dr. Charles Weaver, because he links to something remarkable. In essence, it’s a list—written by William Byrd!—regarding why we should sing.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 13, 2023

SEPTEMBER • Monthly Reminder

Each day, I speak via telephone to folks who have supported Corpus Christi Watershed for years. Yet many of them don’t know about our email newsletter! Please sign up! Simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address. Thank you!

Jeff Ostrowski · September 13, 2023

Eucharistic Hymn by the Archbishop of Canterbury

Using a favorite melody of Dr. Theodore Marier.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 12, 2023

“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) […]

Jeff Ostrowski · September 12, 2023

“Can No One Defend This?” • Why Everyone Should Sing From the Official Edition

I can never go back!

Jeff Ostrowski · September 11, 2023

Jeff Ostrowski’s Discovery • (Does Anyone Care?)

Feel free to examine every single page if you doubt what I’m saying!

Jeff Ostrowski · September 8, 2023

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. […]

Jeff Ostrowski · September 7, 2023

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.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 6, 2023

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?

Jeff Ostrowski · September 5, 2023

Does It Make Sense to Alphabetize Hymnals?

Perhaps you’re saying to yourself: “Jeff comes across as super ungrateful.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 4, 2023

When Others Say You’re “Dumb”

I could give a zillion more examples of my disability.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 2, 2023

Are You A Professional? • (Am I One?)

Including a Eucharistic Hymn (#142) every Catholic should know!

Jeff Ostrowski · August 30, 2023

“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!”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 29, 2023

PDF Download • “Alleluia Verse before Gospel” • (Mass in honor of Saint Noël Chabanel)

Instead, Saint Francis knelt down and kissed the priest’s hands…

Jeff Ostrowski · August 27, 2023

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 […]

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President’s Corner

    2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”
    Do you direct a choir consisting of women or children only? (Some call this a “treble” choir.) Download a two-voice arrangement of Creator of the Starry Height set to the tune of IOANNES by clicking here and then scrolling to the bottom. In our times, this hymn is normally used during ADVENT, and the Latin title is: Cónditor alme síderum. It’s important to say “cónditor”—placing the accent on the antepenult—because ‘condítor’ in Latin means “one who embalms the dead.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Equal Voices” Choir Pieces
    My colleague, CORRINNE MAY, has posted some delightful compositions for equal voices: that is, choirs consisting of all men or all women. Included there are settings of the “Ave Maria” and “Tantum Ergo.” They strike me as relatively simple and not excessively lengthy. (In other words, within reach of volunteer singers.) Even better, all the scores have been made available as instant PDF downloads, completely free of charge. Bravo!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Typo in the “Missale Romanum” (1962)
    The 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM was a transitional missal. It was on its way to becoming the 1970 version, but wasn’t there yet. It eliminated certain duplications, downplayed the Prayers at the Foot of the Altar, expanded the role of laymen, minimized the Last Gospel, made many items optional, and so forth. Father Valentine Young spotted many typos in the 1962 MISSALE ROMANUM, especially incorrect accents. The Offertory Antiphon for this coming Sunday (OF kalendar) contains an error, citing the wrong verse from Psalm 118. It should be 118:107b, not 118:154. If you read verse 154, you’ll understand how that error crept in. [In this particular case, the error pre-dates the 1962 Missal, since the 1940s hand-missal by Father Lasance also gets it wrong.]
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Our Father” • Musical Setting?
    Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“The recitation of the Office of the Dead, the Christmas Office, the spectacle of the days of Holy Week, the sublime chant of the Exultet, beside which the most intoxicating accents of Sophocles and Pindar seemed to me to be insignificant—all of this overwhelmed me with respect and joy, with gratitude, repentance, and adoration!”

— Paul Claudel (1913)

Recent Posts

  • 2-Voice Arr. • “Creator of the Starry Height”
  • PDF Download • Christmas Piece (SATB) — “Angels We Have Heard on High” with Text in Latin
  • “Equal Voices” Choir Pieces
  • A Practical Method of Projecting Solfege for Chant
  • PDF Downloads • Four (4) Simple Pieces in Harmony for Men’s Choirs

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