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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

Saint Paul’s Choir School ~ Top 5 on the Billboard Charts

Richard J. Clark · December 12, 2014

HE SAINT PAUL’S CHOIR SCHOOL, Harvard Square, founded in 1963 by the legendary Theodore Marier, has recently enjoyed a flurry of national publicity surrounding their new CD “Christmas in Harvard Square” on Decca/AimHigher Recordings/UMC. Under the direction of John Robinson and accompanied by organist Dr. Jonathan Wessler, the CD was produced by Grammy Award winner Blanton Alspaugh.

Released in October of this year, it opened on the No. 2 spot on Billboard Magazine’s overall Classical Traditional Chart. During the nine weeks since its release, it has remained in the top 5 on the Classical Traditional Chart. Additionally, it listed last week at No. 4 on the Holiday Albums Chart and No. 10 on the Classical Albums Chart.

* *  Order the CD here: Christmas in Harvard Square • Saint Paul’s Choir School | Harvard Square You can also view the track list and listen to samples. It is also available on iTunes and Amazon.

ECENT NATIONAL TELEVISED APPEARANCES include a Christmas Special on PBS as well as a segment on “Fox and Friends.” During this segment, Music Director John Robinson was asked about the boys’ typical day and rehearsal time. While discussing their extensive rehearsal in addition to demanding academics, Robinson quite notably points out that “…the highlight of our day is always singing the mass that happens at 12:10 in the beautiful acoustics of St. Paul’s Church.” To watch the entire segment click here:

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com      * *  Here is a detailed review of “Christmas in Harvard Square” by Michael Olbash on One Peter Five. Of the many details Mr. Olbash discusses, one comment stands out as it reflects this music the context of faith:

Many choral ensembles include Gregorian chant in concert programs and recording projects as novelty items which tend to sound like precious, fragile museum pieces. In contrast, the two Gregorian introits on this recording — Dominus Dixit and Puer Natus Est — were lively and expressive, the kind of chant singing which can only be achieved when the Gregorian plainsong is part of the living, daily prayer life of a choral ensemble. (emphasis added)

F YOU ARE IN THE BOSTON AREA you can view their concert series and buy tickets online here. Their last concert was sold out, so buy tickets now!

Finally, if you know a talented third or fourth grade boy, you can learn more about “How to Become a Choirboy.” This provides information about admissions, tuition, and opportunities at the Saint Paul’s Choir School. This is an extraordinarily unique Catholic education that may open many unexpected doors. The passion and discipline of music in the context of a faith-filled Catholic education lead to success not only in higher education, but potentially in all matters of life.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: November 27, 2021

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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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    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
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —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

“A striking detail: at Solesmes, we remember hearing Justine Ward criticize accompaniment sometimes or seeing her cover her ears, especially when the organ accompanied a soloist, which is something she could not accept.”

— Dom Pierre Combe

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

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