Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Jeff Ostrowski · November 3, 2014

The Most Disturbing Change To The 1962 Missal

We’re not as smart as we’d thought … and our forefathers weren’t as dumb as we’d assumed.

Fr. David Friel · November 2, 2014

Wakes in Church & Funerals at the Parlor

A Dramatic Reversal

Jeff Ostrowski · November 2, 2014

Announcement: Solemn High Requiem In Los Angeles On Monday

Traditional Latin Mass at a cemetery in Los Angeles: TOMORROW.

fsspla · November 2, 2014

FSSP Los Angeles • What Is The Table?

This beautiful video explains a “safe place” for Catholics in Los Angeles.

Veronica Brandt · November 1, 2014

All Saints celebrations

An All Saints Day party with a major digression on Halloween and All Souls Day.

fsspla · October 31, 2014

FSSP.la Polyphonic Choir

If you can sing in tune, I need your help! Please don’t worry if you cannot read music.

Richard J. Clark · October 31, 2014

All Souls — gave hope to me, too.

Do not miss the opportunities of All Souls Day, especially as it falls on a Sunday.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 30, 2014

Bach Mass In B Minor • Robert Shaw, 1947

Download these magnificent mp3 recordings as soon as you can!

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · October 30, 2014

Music Never Lies

Every piece of music, great or small, contains an indefinable message of the soul, penetrating, communicative, formative.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 29, 2014

Sanctus/Benedictus: Should It Be Divided At Mass?

OCP recently sent me a free Spanish/English book attempting to revive this custom.

Guest Author · October 29, 2014

True Devotion to Jesus

You will definitely want to read the quotes from Paul VI about reception of Communion in the hand.

Jeff Ostrowski · October 28, 2014

Look What God Did For You!

Dr. Mahrt has explained that polyphony’s order “shows forth the splendor of the universe.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 28, 2014

Full Text: Cardinal Pell Sermon • 24 October 2014

“We Catholics have strange beliefs…” —George Cardinal Pell

Jeff Ostrowski · October 27, 2014

The Secret Way The Latin Mass Has Won

A recent blog by Liturgical Press is titled “Growing Up Racist and Misogynist and Catholic.”

Jeff Ostrowski · October 27, 2014

Test Files

BENEDICTUS with Two Alto Parts Here’s the Score The File you need to RECORD from = HERE Rehearsal file for Alto 1 Rehearsal file for Alto 2

Repugnant Rhymes in Hymns

Repeatedly, I have pointed out that the Brébeuf Hymnal is distinguished (among other things) by its elegant and praiseworthy use of rhyme. I have persistently denounced hymnals with “babyfied” or “predictable” or “bland” rhymes. Let me give an example. I noticed a hymn with a particularly repulsive refrain (in terms of its use of rhyme). The verses were much better, as you can see. It turns out the verses were written by Monsignor Ronald Knox—one of the 20th century’s great poets—but some schmuck “affixed” his banal refrain onto it. Reprehensible!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • Baptism of the Lord

Some have expressed interest in perusing the “ORDER OF MUSIC” I prepared for the Baptism of the Lord (12 January 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The entire EPIPHANY SEASON according to the 1970 liturgical calendar is exceedingly brief, which is a shame because there are so many great Epiphany hymns…

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • Baptism of the Lord

Download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (12 January 2025). This English adaptation matches the mode of the version in Gregorian Chant. Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I attempted to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

The Dedication of a Musician

I am reading the biography of a musician (Leo Sowerby), and I read a quote that makes my head shake in sorrow: “[Sowerby] also cultivated a rhetoric that pushed aside questions of his personal life, stating repeatedly for instance it would be impossible for him to do what he did as a musician while also being married.” I think most readers of this blog who cultivate an active Catholic life and who diligently follow the teachings of the Church in its fullness might agree: one cannot be a good husband/wife/father/mother/priest/religious and become one of those rarified musicians who are able to dedicate all their time to hone their craft. However, might I suggest that this wholly misses the point of being an artist. St. John Paul II says that man is generous by nature. In other words, it is in the very being of what it is to be human to be giving of oneself. An artist who is truly living their God-given talent gives freely of themselves first in their vocation, and then their contemplation of beauty will not be stifled by their life in communion with others. Rather, that giving of self is the underlying impetus and drive that will influence and mold their art in ways that living a worldly-minded, “self-fulfilled” life can never do. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

—William J. Fritz

“Reader Feedback” • 6 January 2025

A message we received: “Thank you so much for all of your tireless and selfless work in building up the Kingdom of God and Helping us on the path toward heaven! Your work for many years now has borne much fruit in my life and in the lives of whom I work with. May the Lord bless and protect your very important apostolate.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Lessons and Carols”

Seen online! Dr. Samuel Backman conducted a “Lessons and Carols” service with his choir, and someone produced this lovely vignette.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“From six in the evening, his martyrdom had continued through the ghastly night until nine o’clock in the morning. After fifteen hours of torture rarely if ever surpassed in the bloody annals of the Iroquois, the soul of Gabriel Lalemant was freed from its charred and mutilated prison and summoned to join his comrade Jean de Brébeuf in the radiant splendor of God. March 17th, 1649, was the date; for Brébeuf it had been the sixteenth.”

— ‘Fr. John A. O’Brien, speaking of St. Gabriel Lalemant’