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 · October 15, 2017

Video • “Subveníte Sancti Dei” (Requiem)

November 2nd will be here soon!

Jeff Ostrowski · October 14, 2017

19th Sunday after Pentecost (3rd in October)

“Let Thy healing power, O Lord, in mercy deliver us from our waywardness and cause us ever to cleave to Thy commandments…”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 6, 2017

EF Introit for this coming Sunday: “Da Pacem”

Never let anyone tell you there is no longer interest in Gregorian chant.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 6, 2017

18th Sunday after Pentecost (2nd in October)

“Let the operation of Thy mercy, we beseech Thee O Lord, direct our hearts, for without Thee we cannot please Thee.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 4, 2017

Superlative Way To Explain Polyphony

To use melodies in this way may seem an easy task, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 3, 2017

Agnus Dei • “Missa Mille Regretz” by Fr. Cristóbal de Morales (d. 1553)

Can you hear the imaginary high note?

Jeff Ostrowski · September 29, 2017

Church Music Dubia Remain Unanswered

The time for serious discussions about church music has not yet come.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 27, 2017

Translations By Non-Catholics In A Catholic Hymnal?

The fear was that Protestant translators might distort the theology contained in the ancient Catholic hymns…

Jeff Ostrowski · September 22, 2017

Chants • Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (October 7th)

Next Sunday, some EF priests will choose an “external solemnity.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2017

PDF Download • “Missal for the Laity” (1846)

Have you noticed liturgical progressives are never happy?

Jeff Ostrowski · September 20, 2017

16th Sunday after Pentecost (4th in September)

“Let Thy grace, we beseech Thee, O Lord, ever go before us…”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 19, 2017

PDF Download • “Lauda Sion” Hymnal (1886)

Hymns to the Blessed Virgin, Hymns for Benediction, Offertories, etc.

Jeff Ostrowski · September 15, 2017

“O Sanctissima” • SATB Contemporary Setting!

I bet you haven’t heard this arrangement!

Jeff Ostrowski · September 14, 2017

15th Sunday after Pentecost (3rd in September)

…and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet is risen up amongst us and God hath visited His people.”

Jeff Ostrowski · September 13, 2017

Does Watershed Make A Difference?

“A huge success! My pastor was blown away at the beauty of the Mass setting by Guerrero. The people in attendance were just floored…”

“Entrance Chant” • Immaculate Conception

Download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the Immaculate Conception (9 December 2024). It’s in the third mode—which some consider the most beautiful of all—and mimics the authentic version in a laudable way. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, I attempted to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

How Sharp Are Your Eyes?

Just around the corner is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The GREGORIAN MISSAL (Solesmes Abbey, 1990) is an utterly gorgeous book—there’s no question about that. But several typos did creep in. Can you spot the major typo for the ENTRANCE CHANT on the feast of the Immaculate Conception? How sharp are your eyes? If you succeed, send me an email letting me know.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • (Christ the King Sunday)

This coming Sunday—24 November 2024—is Christ the King Sunday (a.k.a. “Final Sunday in Ordinary Time”). Some have expressed interest in perusing my “ORDER OF MUSIC.” If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. You’ll notice we’re learning Moreau’s “Congregational Polyphonic Enhancement” for the OUR FATHER. And the the Mode 3 ENTRANCE CHANT is utterly sublime.

—Jeff Ostrowski

The Breviary in the Life of the Laity

Recently I have been enjoying looking through the inaugural (1927) edition of a 20th-century liturgical magazine called Orate Fratres. The July 1927 issue included an excellent article by a Chicago laywoman named Ellen Gates Starr entitled “The Delights of the Breviary: From the Point of View of a Lay Woman.” As we in the 21st century have recently undergone a (blessed!) re-translation of the missal into English, and as we await with joyful hope (please God, before Jesus comes back!) a similar re-translation of the breviary, the opening of her article reminded me of that old saying, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Nearly a hundred years ago, she penned words that could just as easily have been written today: “It is indeed a privilege to be allowed any participation, however slight, in the liturgical movement in the Church – the movement to bring back the classics of devotion, the Missal and the Breviary, into general use by the laity. The wonder is that they should ever have fallen into disuse. Nothing can take the place of these great universal prayers of the Church, the prayers of the Mass and the divine Office. One has only to know them to find them indispensable. And alas, how few of the laity know them!” I know that I have been tremendously nourished by regular praying of the breviary as of late, and my wish is that you and I, dear reader, may continue to nourish our interior lives with the official prayer of the Church, which present to us (in the Mass) and extend (in the Office) the fullness of Christ’s greatest gift to us – the gift of Himself – in the Most Holy Eucharist.

—Daniel Tucker

Principles vs Preferences

I ran into this idea recently: principles vs. preferences in planning out a curriculum or music lineup. In this idea, it is imperative to not misconstrue personal preferences into principles—that the music (or subject matter) is great because: “I have good taste, and I like it.” De gustibus… Education, study and docility to the Magisterium of the Church on matters of liturgical music must be present in those who make the music at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Hours. Who knows? Maybe you might start to prefer the music that is fitting according to the principles Catholic Sacred Music?

—William J. Fritz

Liquescent Notes in the Official Edition

The official edition—the EDITIO VATICANA itself—is somewhat inconsistent when it comes to liquescent notes. If you wish to see a perfect “apples-to-apples” comparison, click here. Such “inconsistency” was not owing to ignorance on the part of Abbat Pothier: the manuscripts themselves are inconsistent when it comes to liquescent notes.

—Jeff Ostrowski