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Views from the Choir Loft

The Greatest in the Kingdom

Richard J. Clark · March 14, 2014

MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE and I were blessed with a new arrival in the family this past week with our son, Sean Paul. His older siblings have been waiting to meet him with great anticipation. Watching their pure joy over having a little brother is like a foretaste of heaven for me. I’m not sure I deserve such blessings in life, but it is appropriate that I give great thanks to God every moment I breathe.

I am mindful of this because many struggle raising children through chronic illness, disability, or other challenges. Others have suffered unimaginable loss of an innocent child through illness or tragedy. Having family and close friends who know such suffering first hand, I am humbled by the awesome power of God and his gift of redemption through suffering. As such, children grant us enormous perspective in life. They remind us constantly of not only what is important, but who is most important — namely, God and family. Children return us to our core.

Y CHILDREN HAVE ALSO BEEN a great source of musical inspiration. They each have their own special songs that I sing to them at bedtime every night. Some have been adapted into liturgical or concert works. All are different in approach, reflecting their uniqueness.

For Sean Paul, I have recently completed a new mass setting dedicated to him. Look for this new mass setting to be released on Sunday, April 27th! It is chant inspired in style composed for SATB Choir and Organ using the 2010 Translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition.

FOR OUR FIRST CHILD, our daughter, I composed a hymn based on the story found in both Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospel about the disciples arguing over who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus then shows them a little child:

Matthew 18: 1-5: At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.”

• Here is the choral score and live recording (2007) performed by Youth Pro Musica and the St. Cecilia Choir, Boston, with Peter Krasinski, organ.

FOR MY OLDEST SON, I composed a piece featuring my wife on clarinet. This is a live recording of the premiere at St. Paul Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, home of Saint Paul’s Choir School Harvard Square.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 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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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

“We decided to entrust this work to learned men of our selection. They very carefully collated all their work with the ancient codices in Our Vatican Library and with reliable, preserved or emended codices from elsewhere. Besides this, these men consulted the works of ancient and approved authors concerning the same sacred rites; and thus they have restored the Missal itself to the original form and rite of the holy Fathers.”

— ‘Pope St. Pius V (Quo Primum, 1570)’

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