Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Fr. David Friel · July 5, 2015

Vesting Prayers • Part 1 of 9

Over the coming weeks, I will present a series of reflections on the vesting prayers.

Jeff Ostrowski · July 4, 2015

Clarence Thomas: “I waited 25 years to return to the Church”

“Older people have an obligation not to spew their cynicism on our youth.” —Justice Thomas

Veronica Brandt · July 4, 2015

Don’t compare your kids

It may feel like forever, but children do grow up. The days are long but the years are short. Today’s toddlers are tomorrow’s altar servers and choir members. Then we can look back and whisper a “Thanks be to God.”

Jeff Ostrowski · July 4, 2015

Musical Resources • 6th Sunday after Pentecost (Extraordinary Form)

The organist will play softly at the Offertory.

Richard J. Clark · July 3, 2015

I Have No Idea How to Solve this Problem

A dilemma for parents that has resurfaced many times is how to manage raising children in the faith while working for the Church, and I have no idea how to solve it.

Andrew Leung · July 3, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update V

Report on the fifth day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

Corpus Christi Watershed · July 2, 2015

More Than 10,000 Attend Chartres Pilgrimage

“I considered myself to be a good Catholic, but when I went I realized how little I really cared for and lived my Faith.” —Margaret Walsh

Jeff Ostrowski · July 2, 2015

Annibale Bugnini’s Commentary (June 1967)

“The faithful everywhere have responded generously, and have greeted the new liturgy with great joy.” —Archbishop Bugnini (1967)

Andrew Leung · July 2, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update IV

Report on the fourth day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

Jeff Ostrowski · July 1, 2015

Only Priests Can Save Catholic Music

Including thirteen (13) complete collections of Mass Propers…with audio examples!

Andrew Leung · July 1, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update III

Report on the third day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

Andrew Leung · June 30, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update II

Report on the second day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

Andrew Leung · June 29, 2015

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update I

Report on the first day of the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh

Jeff Ostrowski · June 28, 2015

Loading Choir Binders In Los Angeles

I average one binder per second.

Fr. David Friel · June 28, 2015

In Memoriam: Dr. Lucy E. Carroll, DMA

Lucy was a friend and mentor to me, and I would like to share with you a little bit of her story.

Music List • (4th Sunday of Lent)

Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 4th Sunday of Lent (15 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. This feast has sublime propers. It is most often referred to as “Lætare Sunday” owing to its INTROIT. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • Communion (4th Snd. Lent)

The COMMUNION ANTIPHON for this coming Sunday, which is the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A), is particularly beautiful. There’s something irresistible about this tone; it’s neither happy nor sad. As always, I encourage readers to visit the flourishing feasts website, where the complete Propria Missae may be downloaded free of charge.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Good Friday Flowers

Good Friday has a series of prayers for various parties: the pope, catechumens, pagans, heretics, schismatics, and so forth. In the old liturgical books, there was no official ‘name’ for these prayers. (This wasn’t unusual as ‘headers’ and ‘titles’ for each section is a rather modern idea.) The Missal simply instructed the priest to go to the Epistle side and begin. In the SHERBORNE MISSAL, each prayer begins with a different—utterly spectacular—flower. This PDF file shows the first few prayers. Has anyone counted the ‘initial’ drop-cap flowers in the SHERBORNE MISSAL? Surely there are more than 1,000.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Stumped by “Episcopalian Hymnal” (1910)

Some consider Songs of Syon (1910) the greatest Episcopalian hymnal ever printed. As a Roman Catholic, I have no right to weigh in one way or the other. However, this particular page has me stumped. I just know I’ve heard that tune somewhere! If you can help, please email me. I’m talking about the text which begins: “This is the day the Lord hath made; In unbeclouded light array’d.” The book is by George Ratcliffe Woodward, and its complete title is: Songs of Syon: A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Back in 2016, Corpus Christi Watershed scanned and uploaded this insanely rare book. For years our website was the sole place one could download it as a PDF file.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Dies Irae” • A Monstrous Translation

It isn’t easy to determine what Alice King MacGilton hoped to accomplish with her very popular book—A Study of Latin Hymns (1918)—which continued to be reprinted in new editions for at least 34 years. This PDF file shows her attempt to translate the DIES IRAE “in the fewest words possible.” There’s a place for dynamic equivalency, but this is repugnant. In particular, look what she does to “Quærens me sedísti lassus.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”

For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.

—Jeff Ostrowski