Views from the Choir Loft

Marian Meditations on RJC Cecilia Music

Richard J. Clark · December 5, 2014

HEN I WAS YOUNG I never viewed the Blessed Virgin Mary as a great source of inspiration for composition. How wrong I was. Mary has been an enormous artistic inspiration to me. Aside from the fact that the rosary was a big part my life growing up, I believe it was Mary’s “Yes!” to God that is the overwhelming inspiration. I have no words to express this gift of “Yes!” to us all. Let music express this joy instead.

Some of these have been featured (even more than once) on this blog, but I leave offer it here for meditation and perhaps inspiration:

Ave Maria, Performed around the world by the American Boychoir – score available for digital download with RJC Cecilia Music

* * 1 • YouTube: Ave Maria | SSAT | The American Boychoir, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, Director

* * 2 • YouTube: Ave Maria | TTBB | Schola Cantorum Sanctorum Angelorum, Andrew Leung, Director

Gaudens Gaudebo – I Will Greatly Rejoice!, performed by organist, Rosalind Mohnsen at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D. C. Based on the Introit for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, this work also includes several Marian themes quoted throughout.

Score available for digital download with RJC Cecilia Music

Finally, another setting of Ave Maria from a larger nine movement work, called “Woman.” This movement was performed by the Seraphim Singers.

Score available for digital download with RJC Cecilia Music

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

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).

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