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 7, 2017

14th Sunday after Pentecost (2nd in September)

“Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that this saving Victim may become both the cleansing of our sins, and the propitiation of Thy might.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 31, 2017

13th Sunday after Pentecost (1st in September)

“Having received Thy heavenly sacraments, O Lord, we beseech Thee that we may profit unto the increase of everlasting salvation…”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 30, 2017

Thoughts That Enter A Choirmaster’s Mind

A word about depression and discouragement.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 25, 2017

Very Great Mischiefs Which Arise From The Use Of Polyphony By Religious Orders (1610)

Fourth: musicians who beguile their way into religious orders are for the most part silly, idle, vacillating, vain, effeminate, and even vicious individuals.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 24, 2017

Musical Resources • 12th Sunday after Pentecost

“…and it chanced that a certain priest went down the same way, and seeing him, passed by.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 22, 2017

Volunteer Choirs • Rehearsal “Tricks”

Only two people in the whole school are forced to publicly demonstrate their work: the choirmaster and the coach.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 18, 2017

Musical Resources • 11th Sunday after Pentecost 1

“After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 18, 2017

PDF Download • “O Esca Viatorum”

I am deeply saddened that some people still don’t know where these items are located.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 14, 2017

Ordo Missæ from “People’s Mass Book” (1964)

Two words come to mind: inexplicable and bizarre.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 10, 2017

Musical Resources • 10th Sunday after Pentecost 1

“At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves as just, and despised others…”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 8, 2017

Fr. Patrick T. Brannan, SJ • My Tribute

The cardinal was informed by ICEL: “There is no doubt that Father Brannan knows his Latin and Greek; but does he know English?”

Jeff Ostrowski · August 7, 2017

PDF Download • “Hymns Ancient & Modern”

Including a magnificent hymn for two voices (“Rex Sempiterne”) appropriate throughout the entire liturgical year.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 3, 2017

Telephone Conversation w/ Faculty

Re: 2017 Sacred Music Symposium

Jeff Ostrowski · August 2, 2017

“Chanted Angelus” • Where does it come from?

Did Dom Charpentier compose this chant? Really?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 2, 2017

Chants for the Feast of the Transfiguration

Never have I encountered so many typos in one feast!

“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