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Views from the Choir Loft

Biography • Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark · January 14, 2013

ICHARD J. CLARK is an eclectic musician—composer, conductor, organist, pianist, and songwriter. In 2018, he was named as the Director of Music for the Archdiocese of Boston and choirmaster at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. He previously served for twenty-eight years as Music Director and Organist at St. Cecilia Parish, where he oversaw a thriving music program and helped develop the Smith and Gilbert Organ of six divisions and fifty-four ranks. He continues as Chapel Organist (Saint Mary’s Chapel) at Boston College, where he has served since 2004. As performer and composer, his appearances include the Church of Saint-Eustache (Paris, France), the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington D. C.), Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), the Celebrity Series of Boston, Fenway Park (historic home of the Boston Red Sox), the New York Songwriters Circle, and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral (New York).

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The Ministry & Liturgy Magazine has called Mr. Clark’s music “transformative” as well as “expertly arranged and prayerfully sung.” His compositions have been broadcast on radio in New York, New England, and Europe, including Sounds from the Spires with Dr. Jennifer Pascual. In Russia, his organ work Ascent to Freedom was played by American virtuoso Mark Husey and the American Boychoir under the direction of Fernando Malvar-Ruiz. He also appears with his wife, clarinetist Kara Gretschel Clark, on the Cathedral Encores CD featuring the 1875 E. & G.G. Hook, opus 801, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. He also appears with trumpeter Richard Kelley in a recording of his Requiem pour une américaine à Paris. His liturgical, choral, and organ works are published by Lorenz/The Sacred Music Music Press, CanticaNOVA Publications, RJC Cecilia Music, Corpus Christi Watershed, and World Library Publications. Mæstro Clark is frequently chosen as presenter at international conferences such as the Sacred Music Symposium and the NPM Annual Convention.

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ORN in Greenwich Village, New York City, Mr. Clark grew up in Long Island at St. William the Abbott Parish. While studying as a chemistry major at New York University, he also studied piano and composition with Justin Dello Joio. He received his Bachelor’s Degree at the Berklee College of Music in 1991 where he studied jazz piano and composition. He studied organ with James David Christie. In 1997 he completed his Master of Music Degree from the Boston Conservatory, and was elected to the National Music Honor Society, Pi Kappa Lambda. He currently lives with his wife and four children in Milton, Massachusetts where they are parishioners at St. Agatha Parish. To reach Richard J. Clark via Email, please click here.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles, Biographies Tagged With: Catholic Composers Last Updated: August 20, 2020

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“It would be a grave error to imagine that the principle orientation of the sacrificial action is towards the community. If the priest celebrates «VERSUS POPULUM», which is legitimate and often advisable, his spiritual attitude ought always to be «VERSUS DEUM PER JESUM CHRISTUM», as representative of the entire Church.”

— Official Vatican Statement (25 September 2000)

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