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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

An Educational Experience

Andrew Leung · February 18, 2015

CTL Education APPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! I am so glad that I can start writing as a contributor on this very special day. Some of you may already know that I grew up in Hong Kong. Thanks to the British, Hong Kong is a special region of China and we are allowed to practice our faith freely. Like most of the Catholics in Hong Kong, I am familiar with traditional hymnodies (with Chinese texts) and organ playing because that is the kind of liturgical music we have at home. I grew up with the “4-hymns sandwich” and that’s all I knew about church music. Singing the four hymns was a routine I do every Sunday and most of the time, I didn’t even pay attention to the text.

I am very blessed and grateful that music is part of my life. I started my musical training in preschool at the age of two, and since then music has been part of my life. Music was just a hobby for me until my discovery of the “Fullness” of Sacred Music, Gregorian Chant and Polyphony. I came to the United States five years ago to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville where I studied the Church’s music.

In order to preserve Sacred Music, a treasure and an essential part of the Church, education is very important. Unlike any other kind of music, Sacred Music is so unique because of its holiness. It is set apart from other kinds of music. I always remind myself that singing the Mass or rehearsing with the choir is not just a routine, it is an opportunity to teach or learn about the Church’s music, both spiritually and musically. It is an educational experience and part of the process of preserving “the Treasure”.

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 Andrew Leung

Andrew Leung currently serves the music director of Vox Antiqua, conductor of the Cecilian Singers, and music director at Our Lady of China Church.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The liturgical reform bears absolutely no relation to what is called “desacralization” and in no way intends to lend support to the phenomenon of “secularizing the world.” Accordingly the rites must retain their dignity, spirit of reverence, and sacred character.

— Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (5 September 1970)

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  • PDF Download • Belgian Book of Gregorian Accompaniments (Official Edition)
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