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Views from the Choir Loft

Tallis Scholars Live

Fr. David Friel · December 15, 2013

E PHILADELPHIANS had a rare privilege this week. After two days of snow, our “Concerts at the Cathedral” series brought to our city the legendary Tallis Scholars as part of their 40th Anniversary Tour. They were every bit as magnificent in person as they are on recordings.

In reading the program beforehand, I was pleased to see Victoria’s Missa Gaudeamus among the selections to be performed. I was surprised, however, to notice that the Credo had been omitted. It was a thrill when, after the Gloria, the singers began the Credo anyway. So much for the program; maybe the text was too long to fit on the page.

After my initial thrill at hearing the intonation of the Credo, I began to relax and enjoy the movement. What struck me was nothing technical. I was not processing the inner harmonies or dynamics of the music. Rather, I felt invited to meditate on the mysteries of the faith.

As the Credo slowly proceeded, I had time to consider each of the tenets of faith included therein. In my normal weekly recitation of the Nicene Creed, there is hardly time for such meditation and consideration. It was a welcome Advent gift.

What if we had this opportunity every week at Mass? Most of the Mass-goers I know wouldn’t see it this way, but I would consider it such a blessing. To sing or chant the Creed at all is a rarity in the average parish, but to have a polyphonic setting of the Creed would be outright unthinkable in most places.

The experience I had on Tuesday evening wasn’t in the context of liturgy, but I was grateful for the moments of unhurried mediation I had under the guidance of Victoria and the incomparable Tallis Scholars.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: congregational singing, Singing the Mass Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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Fr. David Friel

About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at St. Anselm Parish in Northeast Philly. He is currently a doctoral candidate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
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

Random Quote

“Our Christian people regard with great joy everything that contributes to the splendor of the ceremonies. Jesus—who was poor in His private life—received ointment on His feet. See Thomas Aquinas (Prima Secundae, q. 102, art. 5, ad 10) and the holy Curé of Ars. The Church has always loved beautiful churches, and so forth. We must preserve our sacred patrimony and make sure sacred objects do not become secular possessions.”

— Abbot & Council Father denouncing “noble simplicity” during Vatican II

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