Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Jeff Ostrowski · March 25, 2015

Video • Vocation Story Of Bishop Robert C. Morlino

“Scranton is a very Catholic town. Every guy, growing up considered the priesthood.” —Bishop Morlino

Jeff Ostrowski · March 24, 2015

Do You Know The Hymn Of Saint Casimir?

The *original* meter & rhyme scheme were miraculously kept in English, Polish, Greek, French, Spanish, Italian, and Hungarian!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 23, 2015

Regensburger Domspatzen

I would still love to see a choir of this quality in every major Catholic church in America.

Jeff Ostrowski · March 22, 2015

Musical Resources • 5th Sunday of Lent “Passion”

The “Gloria Patri” is not said at the Introit from this day until Easter Sunday, except on Feasts.

Fr. David Friel · March 22, 2015

Adoremus & the Way Forward

Continuing the Work of Helen Hull Hitchcock

Andrew Leung · March 21, 2015

Video • “A House Divided”

“We must not allow ourselves to become judgmental with our brothers and sisters who don’t appreciate what we appreciate.” —Archbishop Sample

Jeff Ostrowski · March 21, 2015

Professional Recording • “Salve Festa Dies”

Including a video demonstration: “What makes polyphony so beautiful?”

Richard J. Clark · March 20, 2015

St. Joseph, Fatherhood, and Inclusive Language

This is a hot-button topic I should not touch with a 100-foot pole. But what is not at debate is the inclusive nature of the message of the Gospel.

Andrew Leung · March 19, 2015

Are your Triduum booklets ready?

Don’t be the Pharisees and scribes. Help people to pray and understand the music!

Dr. Lucas Tappan · March 19, 2015

Bertalot’s 5 Wheels (Part 2 of 2)

Steer the Car!

Jeff Ostrowski · March 18, 2015

Video • Nuns At Work (1965)

“The Catholic nun works with zest and a sense of fun along with her devotion…”

Andrew R. Motyka · March 18, 2015

Garbage in, Garbage out

“Lex orandi, lex credendi” works both ways.

Aurelio Porfiri · March 17, 2015

The Real Enemy: Mediocrity

“Real liturgy is for daring hearts, not for uninspired mediocrities.” —Aurelio Porfiri

Jeff Ostrowski · March 17, 2015

Improve Your Parish Liturgy … Instantly!

Have you noticed the change in atmosphere when people dress fancy, as opposed to tank tops with jeans?

Jeff Ostrowski · March 16, 2015

Rare Video • Karol Cardinal Wojtyła In Cappa Magna

Extraordinary footage of Pope St. John Paul II wearing the Cappa Magna.

PDF Download • “For Pentecost Sunday”

Yesterday morning, I recorded myself singing the ENTRANCE CHANT for Pentecost Sunday while simultaneously accompanying myself on the pipe organ. Click here to see how that came out. At the end of the antiphon, there’s a triple Allelúja and I just love the chord at the end of the 2nd iteration. The organ accompaniment—along with the musical score for singers—can be downloaded free of charge at the flourishing feasts website. For the record, the antiphon on Pentecost Sunday doesn’t come from a psalm; it comes from the book of Wisdom.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • “Organ Accompaniment”

Over the past few years, I’ve been harmonizing all the vernacular plainsong Introit settings by the CHAUMONOT COMPOSERS GROUP. This coming Sunday—10 May 2026—is the 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A). The following declaration will probably smack of “blowing my own horn.” However, I’d rank this accompaniment as my best yet. In this rehearsal video, I attempt to sing it while simultaneously accompanying myself on the pipe organ. The musical score [for singers] as well as my organ accompaniment can be downloaded free of charge from the flourishing feasts website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 4 May 2026

A few days ago, the CORPUS CHRISTI WATERSHED Facebook page posted this Gregorian Chant quiz regarding a rubric for the SEQUENCE for the feast of Corpus Christi: “Lauda Sion Salvatórem.” There is no audience more intelligent than ours—yet surprisingly nobody has been able to guess the rubric. Drop me an email with the right answer, and I’ll affirm your brilliance to everyone I encounter!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Thee” + “Thou” + “Thine”

Few musicians realize that various English translations of Sacred Scripture were granted formal approval by the USCCB and the Vatican for liturgical use in the United States of America. But don’t take my word for it! Here are four documents proving this, which you can examine with your own eyes. Some believe the words “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee” were forbidden after Vatican II—but that’s incorrect. For example, they’re found in the English translation of the ‘Our Father’ at Mass. Moreover, the Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) mentioned in those four documents employs “Thine” and “Thou” and “Thee.” It was published with a FOREWORD by Westminster’s Roman Catholic Archbishop (John Cardinal Heenan).

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of May (2026)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. It couldn’t be easier to subscribe! Just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Version • “Canon in D” (Pachelbel)

I published an article on 11 November 2023 called Wedding March For The Lazy Organist, which rather offhandedly made reference to a simplified version I created in 2007 for Pachelbel’s Canon. I often use it as a PROCESSIONAL for weddings and quinceañeras. Many organists say they “hate” Pachelbel’s Canon. But I love it. I think it’s bright and beautiful. I created that ‘simplified version’ for musicians coming to grips with playing the pipe organ. It can be downloaded as a free PDF if you visit Andrea Leal’s article dated 15 August 2022: Manuals Only: Organ Interludes Based on Plainsong. Specifically, it is page 84 in that collection—generously offered as a free PDF download. Johann Pachelbel (d. 1706) was a renowned German organist, violinist, teacher, and composer of over 500 works. A friend of Bach’s family, he taught Johann Christoph Bach (Sebastian Bach’s eldest brother) and lived in his house. Those who read Pachelbel’s biography will notice his connection to two German cities adopted as famous hymn tune names: EISENACH and ERFURT.

—Jeff Ostrowski