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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

Collaboration Between Artists

Andrew Leung · May 28, 2015

CTL Collaboration Between Artists HIS PAST WEEKEND was a busy and musical one for me. I performed at two concerts, one with my choirs at my parish and the second one at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Charleston, SC, with the Atlanta Schola Cantorum. On the way back from Charleston, I had a chance to stop by the newly-dedicated St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Aiken, South Carolina. Here is a thought from my trip: Catholic artists (musicians, architects, visual artists, acoustic engineers etc.) need to work together more often.

I really like the new St. Mary Help of Christians Church. The exterior of the church is in the Spanish style and the interior looks like a Roman basilica. The project is not completed yet, they are waiting to put in the stain glass windows and more statues, but the church is definitely functional. It can hold up to one thousand people and the acoustic of the church is great! There was a graduation rehearsal going on during my visit and a teacher was giving some instructions to her students. I was able to hear her instructions from the back of this huge church and she didn’t use a microphone. I also realize there was some empty space in the choir loft and my guess is that they are leaving some room for a pipe organ in the future.

Another wonderful experience I had during the trip was the concert at St. John the Baptist Cathedral. I joint the Atlanta Schola Cantorum recently and we were invited to perform at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. I really enjoyed singing in the big gothic cathedral! As a musician, I am always “trapped” in the crowed choir loft and I never get to listen to myself or my choir from the pews or the sanctuary. This time, we performed in the sanctuary and I got to hear myself! The sound is totally different from what I used to hear and I felt like I was in heaven!

In order for all these good things to happen, artists must collaborate with each other. Musicians should plan with church architects on things like the acoustic, choir loft and space for the instruments. Other than the architectural area, it’s also important that musicians get involved in the additional sound system and the exterior design of an pipe organ. Through collaborations, we can all live out our vocation in service of beauty.

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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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”
    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It was thought important that the song should actually accompany the distribution of Communion. A Carolingian explanation of the Mass remarks that during the Communion “soft melody should touch the ear [of the faithful] so that hearing this sound they would busy themselves less with distracting thoughts and … their hearts would be moved to humble love for that which they receive.”

— Father Josef Andreas Jungmann

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