Views from the Choir Loft

Catholic Composer Brian J. Nelson To Appear On EWTN

Corpus Christi Watershed · October 15, 2013

RIAN J. NELSON (biography), a Catholic composer and convert to the Faith living and working in Lawrence, Kansas will appear on The Journey Home program with host Marcus Brodi on Monday, November 4 at 7pm on EWTN to discuss his journey to the Catholic Church. Originally from a Methodist and then Evangelical background, Brian was received into full communion with the Catholic Church in the Jubilee Year 2000 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Composition in 2011 and currently works as the Director of Sacred Liturgy and Music at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center. To date, his music is represented on two professional CDs (both widely available online):

1. Responsorial Psalms for Advent and Christmas (Nelson Music 2009)

2. Vocalise – Instrumental & Vocal Music of Brian J. Nelson (Nelson Music 2010)

Check out his website for lovely images, beautiful musical excerpts, and interesting blog posts:

* * Nelson Music Website • The official site for composer Brian J. Nelson

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

5 April 2021 • When Girls *SING*

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski

29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

29 March 2021 • Condemned?

On Palm Sunday, the Passion was read. Immediately after mention is made of the betrayal by Judas, the Holy Eucharist is introduced. Is this not a condemnation of “Christians” who deny the Church teaching on the SANCTISSIMUM? Here is Matthew 26: And Judas that betrayed him, answering, said: “Is it I, Rabbi?” He saith to him: “Thou hast said it.” And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body.

—Jeff Ostrowski