Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Jeff Ostrowski · August 4, 2015

My Response To “Should Church Singers Be Paid?”

“The labourer is worthy of his hire.” (I Tim 5:18)

Dr. Lucas Tappan · August 4, 2015

A Must Have For The Choir Director’s Shelf

This book is invaluable for the church musician.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 4, 2015

The Easiest Way To Teach Your Choir Polyphony

What could be simpler or more fun than this?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 4, 2015

Why St. Josemaría Escrivá Only Celebrated The Extraordinary Form

“Such moments had been a part of his spiritual life since boyhood and through his priesthood.”

Fr. David Friel · August 3, 2015

Assumption Mass 1

A Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form next Friday evening in Philadelphia.

Fr. David Friel · August 2, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 5 of 9

The Cincture

Jeff Ostrowski · August 2, 2015

Loading Choir Binders for 2 August 2015

Once we finish revising the scores at Goupil, this will be unnecessary.

Andrew Leung · August 2, 2015

Maestro Colin Mawby—The Newest Blogger

Maestro Mawby is now a contributor for «CASTAWAY» and his articles may interest you…

Veronica Brandt · August 1, 2015

Teaching chant to your children

Just a little each day. As Confucius says: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

Richard J. Clark · July 31, 2015

Personal Issues Manifested in the Mass

Personal tensions can rise to the highest boiling point during Mass and no other place.
Why is this? As it turns out, there’s a pretty interesting reason.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 30, 2015

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen On Gregorian Chant

“I did my best to give utterance to all those black notes in the missal.” —Fulton J. Sheen

Dr. Lucas Tappan · July 30, 2015

A Few More Thoughts on the Chorister Audition

At the end of the audition, most of the students experience a great sense of accomplishment and really consider it an honor to be accepted into the choir!

Aurelio Porfiri · July 29, 2015

“When You See Rome, You Will Lose Your Faith.”

Only the blind can avoid facing this reality: the biggest liturgical crisis is in Rome.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 29, 2015

Musical Resources • 10th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

The recessional is bright, happy, and beautiful.

Andrew Leung · July 29, 2015

The Anglican can dress anything up?

Recently, I came across a video of a Anglican boys’ choir singing Dan Schutte’s “Here I am Lord”…

“Offertory” at Catholic Funerals

I have argued that the OFFERTORY—at least in its ancient form—is more of a responsory than an antiphon. The 1962 Missal specifically calls it “Antiphona ad Offertorium.” From now on, I plan to use this beautiful setting (PDF) at funerals, since it cleverly inserts themes from the absolution of the body. Tons more research needs to be done on the OFFERTORY, which often is a ‘patchwork’ stitching together various beginnings and endings of biblical verses. For instance, if you examine the ancient verses for Dómine, vivífica me (30th Sunday in Ordinary Time) you’ll discover this being done in a most perplexing way. Rebecca Maloy published a very expensive book on the OFFERTORY, but it was a disappointment. Indeed, I can’t think of a single valuable insight contained in her book. What a missed opportunity!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“In Paradisum” • Gregorian Chant

As a RECESSIONAL on All Souls’ Day (November 2nd), we will sing In Paradísum Dedúcant Te Ángeli (PDF). When it comes to Gregorian Chant, this is one of the most popular “songs.” Frankly, all the prayers and chants from the traditional REQUIEM MASS (Missa exsequialis or Missa pro defunctis) are incredibly powerful and never should’ve been scuttled. Click here to hear “In Paradisum” in a recording I made this afternoon. Professor Louis Bouyer spoke of the way Bugnini “scuttled the office of the dead” in this fascinating excerpt from his memoirs. In his book, La riforma litugica (1983), Bugnini bragged—in quite a shameful way—about eliminating the ancient funeral texts, and even admitted those venerable texts were “beloved” (his word) by Catholics.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • All Souls (2 November)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 2 November 2025, which is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (“All Souls”). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the top-notch feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin. In my humble opinion, it’s weird to have the feast of All Saints on a Sunday. No wonder the close associate of Pope Saint Paul VI said the revised KALENDAR was “the handiwork of a trio of maniacs.” However, I can’t deny that sometimes the sacred liturgy consists of elements that are seemingly contradictory: e.g. the Mode 7 “De Profúndis” ALLELUIA, or the Mode 8 “Dulce lignum” ALLELUIA on the various ancient feasts of the Holy Cross (3 May, 14 September, and so on).

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“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