Views from the Choir Loft

Articles

Jeff Ostrowski · August 19, 2013

Singing Propers and Ordinary . . . at Low Mass?

“And the practice of saying a Low Mass while the choir sings bits of things is too dreadful to be described.” — Fr. Adrian Fortescue, 1912

Fr. David Friel · August 18, 2013

The Gift of Music

Whose Gift Is It?

Jeff Ostrowski · August 17, 2013

Anticipation of Richard . . .

One of our contributors, Richard Clark, plans to write about the 1998 ICEL translation . . .

Jeff Ostrowski · August 17, 2013

Essay on Gregorian Accompaniment

I published this article in 2007. I am reproducing it here in case anyone finds it useful.

Veronica Brandt · August 17, 2013

A hymn for St Mary of the Cross

A beautiful hymn from Rev Fr Popplewell FSSP from Canberra, Australia.

Kevin Allen · August 15, 2013

Motecta Trium Vocum • Video

To learn about Motecta Trium Vocum, please click here.

Kevin Allen · August 15, 2013

Contemporary Sacred Music: Does It Exist?

To learn more about I Sing of a Maiden, please click here.

Kevin Allen · August 15, 2013

Cantiones Sacrae Simplices • Video

To learn more about Cantiones Sacrae Simplices, please click here.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski · August 15, 2013

In This Little House of God

We must do all that we can do for the Lord, since our greatest is the least that is worthy of him. And when we do all the “little things” with love, we give Him great glory.

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 15, 2013

Sacred Music Colloquium XXI (Trailer)

A short film by Watershed which features live footage of the “Sacred Music Colloquium” (Church Music Association of America).

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 15, 2013

Sacred Music Colloquium XVIII (Video Trailer)

A short film by Watershed which features live footage of the “Sacred Music Colloquium” (Church Music Association of America).

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 15, 2013

Sacred Music Colloquium XX (Trailer)

A short film by Watershed which features live footage of the “Sacred Music Colloquium” (Church Music Association of America).

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 15, 2013

Foreword by Bishop René H. Gracida

Foreword by Bishop René H. Gracida

Andrew R. Motyka · August 14, 2013

Antiphons for the Dog Days of Ordinary Time

Music for the Communion procession, even for the “summer slog.”

Fr. David Friel · August 14, 2013

Returning Home

The Grace of the Assumption

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