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 · November 13, 2018

Hymn Texts by Fr. Christopher Phillips

Listen to an original text accepted for publication in the Brébeuf hymnal…

Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2018

PDF Download • “Pope Pius XII Hymnal” (1959)

Very few people have a copy of this incredibly rare Catholic hymnal.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 6, 2018

“Last” Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle?” And he said to them, “An enemy hath done this.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 30, 2018

“Source Material” • The Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal

We assembled a staggering number of Catholic hymnals and selected only the very best material from each.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 29, 2018

“Lord, take not only my nose…” (Fr. Jogues)

Why prayer doesn’t always “work”—and why that’s a good thing!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 22, 2018

Incredible News! • Re: Mæstro Richard J. Clark

There’s a new music director for the Archdiocese of Boston and Cathedral of the Holy Cross!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 19, 2018

22nd Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“At that time, the Pharisees went and consulted among themselves, how to ensnare Jesus in His speech…”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 15, 2018

PDF Download • “Sanctus” (SATB) by JS Bach!

Wow … I bet you’ve never heard this piece before!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 10, 2018

Absolute Last Chance: Period!

My friend, Andrew Motyka, asked me to show the “full version” of this famous hymn.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 8, 2018

Live Recording Snippet • Vespers at Saint Vitus

We’ve made a very good start, and things will get better and better!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 2, 2018

PDF Download • SATB Christmas Carol by Peter Lejeune • “Jam Désinant Suspíria”

I recorded all the voices, to demonstrate how it sounds…

Jeff Ostrowski · September 28, 2018

19th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

Then he saith to his servants, “The marriage indeed is ready, but they that were invited were not worthy.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 26, 2018

Scott Hahn: “Thomas More & John Fisher”

Saint John Fisher (d. 1535) tutored King Henry VIII when he was a boy—but Henry VIII eventually murdered him and placed his head on a stake.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 25, 2018

2015 Review • “American Catholic Hymnbook”

“Hymns that are directed to the Trinity should not be used, no matter how familiar they may be.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2018

18th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

“O God, Who, through the august communication of this sacrifice, dost make us partakers of the one supreme divinity…”

“Music List” • 1st Sunday of Lent

Some have expressed interest in perusing the “ORDER OF MUSIC” I prepared for the 1st Sunday of Lent, Year C (9 March 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. During Lent, the pipe organ is greatly reduced. Therefore, I marked a red “X” on all the pieces we’re singing a cappella.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Kyrie Setting” we’re doing for Lent

During Lent, we’re singing the KYRIE polyphony from the Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel. There are various pieces of information (and variations) on that website. Therefore, to make it easy to find—since choirs appreciate “no hassle” scores—here are the parts: (a) The Ordinary Form musical score (PDF) is based on the EF score; (b) Soprano Voice rehearsal video is here; (c) Alto Voice rehearsal video is here; (d) Tenor Voice rehearsal video is here; (e) Bass Voice rehearsal video is here; (f) Equal Voices rehearsal video is here.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord…”

The Communion antiphon for this coming Sunday is quite beautiful (PDF). I’m not sure I know any other feast which does what the 1st Sunday of Lent does. Specifically, the text for the COMMUNION is identical to the OFFERTORY, except the word “Dóminus” is understood in the Communion. The INTROIT, GRADUALE, and TRACT also use that same psalm: viz. Psalm 90.

—Jeff Ostrowski

The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum

Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.

—Daniel Tucker

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music).

—Corpus Christi Watershed

The Lofty Nature of This Goal

It is important above all that we never lose sight of our true goal as church musicians: the right worship of Almighty God. This is not a pious sentiment that should cause us to be lax about technical elements of music. Rather, the lofty nature of this goal is should motivate and inspire us to pursue the techne of musicianship with even greater zeal.

—Dr. Samuel Backman