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Views from the Choir Loft

Reviving a Music Program & Ryan Lynch on “Sounds from the Spires”

Richard J. Clark · January 16, 2015

UMPSTARTING A NEW CHOIR is always a challenge. Very often, a new director walks into a situation where there is a small program in need of bolstering. This may also involve igniting new programs. Doing so in a parish setting – “in the trenches” – is also very challenging. But it’s a challenge everywhere!

A glimpse into such a parish is St. Raphael’s Parish in Medford, Massachusetts where Ryan Lynch took over as Director of Music and Organist a little more than a year ago. Having no adult choir whatsoever, he also revitalized a small youth choir which now includes thirty-five children. Like many music directors, he is now teaching in the parish school, working with children from kindergarten through fifth grade. (Ryan Lynch is also very frequently heard for the Archdiocese of Boston’s televised masses on Boston Channel 7, WHDH.)

T TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OLD, Mr. Lynch is certainly part of a new generation of musicians advocating for chant and traditional music of the Church. In doing so, the choirs at St. Raphael’s Parish have grown solidly with very capable and young volunteers.

When starting a new choir from scratch, Mr. Lynch has been wise in selecting repertoire that is simple, but substantial. He has relied a great deal on Richard Rice’s Simple Choral Gradual, the Chabanel Psalms, and Andrew Motyka’s Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons. He is also slowly introducing the simple, yet essential Gregorian Chants of the Church. An indispensable resource for this is Richard Rice’s Parish Book of Chant.

Conventional wisdom assumes that popular styles of music will attract larger congregations and choirs. However, one cannot argue with the results at St. Raphael’s Parish, especially given greatly improved congregational singing, a revived adult choir, and the large numbers in his youth choir. While exceedingly versatile in handling different musical styles, his approach in laying a foundation of traditional sacred music of the Church has yielded much fruit in a short time. (Interestingly, this is often achieved with contemporary chant and choral based compositions.) This path takes courage and support from the pastor. Fr. Kevin Toomey, clearly has his trust in Ryan’s approach.

One final ingredient to infusing life into new programs one that Ryan has in abundance: interpersonal skills. Despite his youth, he demands respect by giving it. His singers of all ages love singing with him. In short, he is another parish musician who views his life’s work as service to the Church. Good-hearted and talented people respond quite positively to this philosophy. They want to take part in this service to God and others.

ECENTLY, RYAN LYNCH had a guest appearance on “Sounds from the Spires” on on SIRIUS XM 129 Radio, The Catholic Channel. The show is hosted by Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Director of Music at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. This interview gives a bit of a glimpse for non-musicians of the daily life and challenges of a parish church musician. This was especially fitting after a busy Christmas Season!

• PODCAST • Here are some excerpts from “Sounds form the Spires” broadcast on 1.10.2015:

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Catholic Youth Choirs 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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PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
7 June 2022 • FEEDBACK

From Chelan, Washington: “CCWatershed is a God-sent resource that I can’t function without! Such great work by the team to bring beauty back to our liturgy!” From Gainesville, Florida: “I am so appreciative of the work, of my brothers and sisters in music!” From Troutman, North Carolina: “Keep up the excellent work in service of the Liturgy!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Worse, composers are now setting the introits of the missal [instead of the Graduale] to music, even to chant, though these texts were explicitly for spoken recitation only.”

— ‘Dr. William Mahrt (Fall, 2015)’

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