Views from the Choir Loft

Abbey Psalms and Canticles

Jeff Ostrowski · February 10, 2025

The New Lectionary & “Voice of God” Hymns

The sale of indulgenced prayers is immoral. Someday they’ll have to make restitution for this.

Corpus Christi Watershed · February 5, 2025

Abbey Psalms & Canticles • Copyright?

Confusion, Controversy, and Contradiction rules the day.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 12, 2024

Confirmed! • Bp. Woost Elected Chairman of “Committee on Divine Divine Worship”

For sixty years, Catholics have demanded to know what is gained by the ceaseless tinkering with liturgical translations.

Jeff Ostrowski · November 4, 2024

Re: Copyright Status of “Abbey Psalms & Canticles” (PDF Chart)

There’s been considerable online discussion about this. Our readers have a right to know what’s at issue.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 30, 2024

Leaked Document! • Comparison Chart—New Responsorial Psalms (“Abbey Psalms & Canticles”)

The NAB tried to use “overly casual” language—and the results are often an abomination.

Jeff Ostrowski · August 4, 2024

“Something Quite Odd” • Today’s Responsorial Psalm

Including a special comparison chart which shows the NAB translation vs. the “Abbey Psalms and Canticles” translation.

Andrea Leal · January 13, 2023

New Lectionary for the USA • Coming in 2028?

“Work hasn’t even begun on the next Lectionary, and there’s nothing definite about 2028 as a date.” — Father Andrew V. Menke, director of the USCCB liturgical committee

PDF Download • “Chabanel Tones”

Many have requested a file containing all the different tones used on the Father Noël Chabanel website. I finally found time to assemble all of them into a single PDF file (which is 3 pages long). If this interests you, feel free to download the PDF score.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • 7th Sunday (Ord. Time)

You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (23 February 2025). Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. This English adaptation uses mode 5, as does the authentic Gregorian Chant version, which formerly was used in a rather surprising place (viz. the 1st Sunday after Pentecost). 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

“Reader Feedback” • 11 February 2025

A priest in Washington D.C. sent us the following message: “Your Psalm tones and harmonizations are both accessible yet subtly brilliant. I am so grateful for how you have improved the quality of my parish’s liturgy.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum

Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.

—Daniel Tucker

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music).

—Corpus Christi Watershed

The Lofty Nature of This Goal

It is important above all that we never lose sight of our true goal as church musicians: the right worship of Almighty God. This is not a pious sentiment that should cause us to be lax about technical elements of music. Rather, the lofty nature of this goal is should motivate and inspire us to pursue the techne of musicianship with even greater zeal.

—Dr. Samuel Backman