Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 5, 2015

Patience, Patience, Patience

“I have known people who began teaching music in the class room and within a couple of years decided they would rather work for a bank.” —Lucas Tappan

Andrew Leung · February 5, 2015

The Greatest Enemy of Sacred Music?

“When Gregorian Chant is being sung, our bodies naturally go into a more peaceful, still, and contemplative mode.” —Andrew Leung

Jeff Ostrowski · February 4, 2015

Exclusive Interview With Dr. William Mahrt

Towards the end I ask the CMAA president a loaded question … and he answers!

Jeff Ostrowski · February 3, 2015

Palestrina “O Crux Ave” • Practice Videos

I’ve been yearning to sing this piece since 2002.

Andrew R. Motyka · February 3, 2015

Truth, Beauty, and Pop Culture, Part 1

In which I take unpopular stances about popular things.

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 2, 2015

How To Properly Train Young Voices To Sing At Mass

“Our pastor called all the students in grades 4-8 together, declaring that he would personally pay for the organ lessons of any student willing to learn…” —Dr. Tappan

Jeff Ostrowski · February 2, 2015

Elvis Presley, Offertory Processions, & “Alius Cantus”

Offertory processions in the 1940s? Really?

Fr. David Friel · February 1, 2015

Pope Francis & the Devil

Driving Out the Unclean Spirits in Our Midst

Jeff Ostrowski · January 31, 2015

Musical Resources • Septuagesima Sunday

«GLORIA in EXCELSIS» is not said from Septuagesima Sunday until Easter, except on Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday, & some special feasts.

Veronica Brandt · January 31, 2015

Lord of the World

A highly recommended book which relies on some background knowledge of sacred music.

Richard J. Clark · January 30, 2015

Liturgy of the Word and Paraphrasing the Responsorial Psalm

Would a lector paraphrase a reading from Isaiah or Paul? Would a deacon or priest change the words while proclaiming the Gospel of St. Luke?

Guest Author · January 29, 2015

How Important Is The Poetic Value Of A Hymn?

“If Christians want me to believe in their god, they will have to sing me better hymns.” —Nietzsche

Cynthia Ostrowski · January 28, 2015

Catholic Bulletin Art • Installment #68

Today’s installment is a third picture of the Epiphany—different than the two we’ve previously posted.

Jeff Ostrowski · January 28, 2015

Innocuous But Uninspired Music At Mass?

In my youth, I recall singing some of these same songs at Mass, but I refused to do the hand gestures.

Aurelio Porfiri · January 27, 2015

Understanding

“Immanentism means there is no reality beyond what we know…” —Aurelio Porfiri

Dr. Mahrt explains the ‘Spoken’ Propers

In 1970, the Church promulgated a new version of the Roman Missal. It goes by various names: Ordinary Form, Novus Ordo, MISSALE RECENS, and so on. If you examine the very first page, you’ll notice that Pope Saint Paul VI explains the meaning of the ‘Spoken Propers’ (which are for Masses without singing). A quote by Dr. William P. Mahrt is also included in that file. The SPOKEN PROPERS—used at Masses without music—are sometimes called The Adalbert Propers, because they were created in 1969 by Father Adalbert Franquesa Garrós, one of Hannibal Bugnini’s closest friends (according to Yves Chiron).

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF • “Music List” (1st Sunday of Advent)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 30 November 2025, which is the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year A). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT is quite memorable, and the fauxbourdon setting of the COMMUNION is exquisite. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are available at the feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Music List” • Christ the King Sunday

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 23 November 2025, which is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. In the 1970 Missal, this Sunday is known as: Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Universorum Regis (“Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”). As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the magnificent feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Translations Approved for Liturgical Use”

According to the newsletter for USSCB’s Committee on Divine Worship dated September 1996, there are three (3) translations of the Bible which can be used in the sacred liturgy in the United States. You can read this information with your own eyes. It seems the USCCB and also Rome fully approved the so-called NRSV (“New Revised Standard Version”) on 13 November 1991 and 6 April 1992 but this permission was then withdrawn in 1994.

—Corpus Christi Watershed

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