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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

“Choral music is not one of life’s frills.”

Richard J. Clark · April 24, 2015

OMPOSER JOHN RUTTER, in this extraordinary video, speaks from the heart the importance of choral music for humanity, and hence for our souls:

“Choral music is not one of life’s frills. It’s something that goes to the very heart of our humanity, our sense of community and our souls. You express when you sing, your soul in song.”

This is also why choral singing magnifies prayer many times over. As “choral music is not one of life’s frills,” neither is prayerful and beautiful sacred music a “frill” for the mass. It is an absolute necessity. The mass is a sung prayer; we express our praise of God from the depths of our hearts through sacred melody.

Would that our church and school budgets reflect this profound importance, our praise of God would be greater, our churches fuller, and our relationship with the Lord and each other deeper. (Interestingly, it is a wise investment that more than pays itself back.)

As Rutter also states:

“…a church or a school without a choir is like a body without a soul.”

ONE SUCH ORGANIZATION that was founded in response to budget cuts in the Boston Public Schools is the Boston City Singers. While not a choir of sacred music, this organization of numerous choirs ranging in age from four to eighteen, is an enlightened example of music education given heightened priority in the community. They have filled a great void and the community has responded with expanded programming and funding for the BCS.

As many understand, the musical education of our children isn’t just about music—it’s about personal development and broadening skills and experiences for life! Likewise, sacred music heightens our greatest prayer that is the mass and prepares us for the Sacred Banquet in heaven.

So, do we view our sacred music program as a “frill” or a necessity?

This Sunday is “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Here is a live recording from mass of the Boston City Singers in my SSA setting of “The Lord Is My Shepherd” available for digital download at RJC Cecilia Music.

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 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

Quick Thoughts

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Abbat Pothier’s great accomplishment is having returned to the Catholic world—along with the traditional melody—the traditional way of performing it. The foundations laid by this providential man have been accepted by all those who practice Gregorian chant.”

— Dr. Peter Wagner (Commissionis Pontificiæ Gregorianæ Membrum)

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