Corpus Christi Watershed

“Is it not true that prohibiting or suspecting the extraordinary form can only be inspired by the demon who desires our suffocation and spiritual death?” —The Vatican’s chief liturgist from 2014-2021; interview with Edw. Pentin (23-Sep-2019)

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).

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30 June 2021 • “External Solemnities”

A document from 1822 shows that 29 June, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, used to be a Holy Day of Obligation in the United States. By 1864 it was no longer a Holy Day of Obligation—but the bishops of the United States were asked to celebrate it “solemnly” on the following Sunday, which […]

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28 June 2021 • (Live Rec.) Perfect Canon

A few weeks ago, we posted a perfect Canon by Giovanni Maria Nanino (d. 1607), who was a colleague of Palestrina. Here is a Live Recording by a volunteer choir. The score scrolls by as the singers perform it. It was recorded yesterday at Mass.

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28 June 2021 • “Progress is what counts…”

Like so many others, we lost about a year’s worth of rehearsals due to Covid19. We are trying to make up for lost time, and we have begun learning Father Guerrero’s Missa De Beata Virgine II published in Rome circa 1582. Here is a 37 second audio clip recorded at Mass last Sunday. We have […]

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26 June 2021 • “Twenty Seconds”

I could not do my job without the Brébeuf Hymnal. Here’s a Live Recording (20 seconds) from last night’s Mass. Our volunteer choir is frequently called upon—at the last second—to sing for first Masses, solemn high Masses, dedication Masses, and so forth. With the Brébeuf Hymnal, I can always pull out marvelous, wonderful, thrilling songs […]

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14 June 2021 • “From Rehearsal…”

One of our choristers recorded this audio excerpt from a recent rehearsal we had. I know there are certain people on the internet who claim that “proper voice leading & harmonies died with Bach in 1750AD…anything goes these days.” But I could not disagree more with such an assertion. The proper rules of harmony and […]

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