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“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Colloquium Update I

Fr. David Friel · July 3, 2014

OGETHER WITH Andy Motyka, I have been enjoying some wonderful first days at the CMAA Sacred Music Colloquium in Indianapolis. This is my third Colloquium, and all the things I love about the experience are here in force: an extraordinary faculty, magnificent liturgies, good fellowship, etc. Here are a few random thoughts about highlights thus far.

We were treated to a marvelous choral evensong at Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican) on our first evening. The tone and unity of the choristers were of the highest quality and very much appreciated by those who attended the service.

I am singing in the men’s chant schola under the directions of Scott Turkington, who is returning to the Colloquium for the first time in a few years. It’s fascinating to learn from a man who is one of the true experts in the field of Gregorian chant.

Also, the number of priests in attendance is noteworthy & encouraging. There are approximately 15 priests here, which is a much larger group than usual.

When I saw on the preliminary schedule that Dr. Denis McNamara would be delivering a plenary address this year, I was very excited. In addition to all his work as an architect, Dr. McNamara has also done quite a bit of writing on the topic of sacred architecture, which is where I have chiefly encountered him. What most excited me is the fact that I don’t remember such an inter-disciplinary lecture at the other Colloquia I have attended. So, while my expectations were high, they were still far exceeded. McNamara’s presentation was engaging, fast-paced, humble, rich in theology, and filled with hope. When all is said and done, I think this may be my personal highlight for Colloquium 2014. Too soon too call? Maybe, maybe not.

One of the other highlights has been the morning solfege warm-ups with Jeffrey Morse. I regret that I was not trained in solfege at an early age, but I can notice how, in just a few days time, Jeffrey’s presentation of the Ward Method has significantly improved my solfege facility.

Finally (for now), I had the chance on Wednesday afternoon to attend a breakout session with Adam Bartlett, who presented on “Chant in English & Spanish.” After some discussion of the challenges with composing vernacular chant, Adam traced a bit of the history of the various resources that have become available in recent years for singing the propers. The group received many insights into the Lumen Christi project, which is one of the greatest recent contributions to the field. (For an good, albeit informal, review of Barlett’s latest Lumen Christi Simple Gradual, click HERE.)

Many exciting things still lie ahead this week. I’m grateful to be in this terrific city, surrounded by so many people who want to sing with the heart of the Church!

Colloquium Update II

Colloquium Update III

Colloquium Update IV

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Sacred Music Colloquium Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    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). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“Angularis fundamentum” is typically sung at the dedication or consecration of a church and on church anniversaries. For constructions too numerous to list in recent generations, it would be more appropriate to sing that Christ had been made a temporary foundation. A dispirited generation built temporary housing for its Lord, and in the next millnenium, the ease of its removal may be looked back upon as its chief virtue.

— Fr. George Rutler (2016)

Recent Posts

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  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
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