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Views from the Choir Loft

Sacred Music Colloquium XXV — Update V

Andrew Leung · July 3, 2015

CTL Colloquium 9 ODAY IS the fifth day of the Sacred Music Colloquium. We had a beautiful Solemn High Requiem Mass in the Vetus Ordo celebrated by Fr. Robert Pasley at St. Paul Cathedral. Jonathan Ryan gave a recital tonight and his playing was just amazingly colorful. It seemed like he used every single combination of stops on the 4 manaul mechanical organ. And of course, there is no better way to end the day by singing the Compline in the Gothic cathedral.

I will be sharing more about the Requiem Mass tomorrow. I would like to focus on the breakout session, another panel discussion, again today. I found this discussion on “Successful Chorister Programs at a Parish” really helpful. As many of you may know, I just finished my first year as the Music Director at my parish. I founded a children’s choir when I got to the parish last summer and I have been experimenting with the program for a whole year. I learned a lot from my “tests” and had pretty good experience with the kids. And it is just great to learn from people who have successful programs at their parishes. The panelist of the breakout include: Jonathan Ryan, Jeffrey Morse, Scott and Suzanne Atwood, Scott Turkington and David Hughes; and Mary Jane Ballou served as the moderator.

The foundation of every successful parish chorister programs is a clear goal, and that for the glory of God. Choristers and parents must understand the ultimate purpose of Sacred Music. Hughes said that it is very important for them to pray as they are singing, not only in the Liturgy, but also during the rehearsals. Every rehearsal should be a prayer as we prepare both musically and spiritually for the Mass.

Many people asked the questions “how did you build a program from the ground up and how do you recruit choristers?”. The Atwoods said that schools, whether they are attached to the parish or just around the area, are good places to recruit choristers. It is ideal that the choir director takes some time to search for potential singers for the program and invite them personally. Ryan suggested that choir directors should “be good shepherds” and “go find the sheep”. He thinks it is important to have the parents’ support and directors should communicate with them, which could mean to find them by going to every single parish events like First Communion classes, Holy Hours and even Bingo nights. The panelists all agreed that it is very important to get the parents involve. Parents can form advisory groups or help take care of the children’s needs and discipline. The collaboration of the director and parents is a must in order to build a successful program.

On the topic of “audition”, Morse said that it is necessary to have auditions (ear tests/any other names) to find out the abilities of the children. It doesn’t mean that children who cannot match pitch will be turned down. And actually he suggested that pre-chorister program be formed and the director may focus on helping them to match pitch. To run a chorister program is very time-consuming and directors must be patient and encouraging. Morse also suggested that hierarchy be established in the program, that is to appoint a head and deputy head choristers, so that children will know their importance and take up responsibilities. The head and deputy head choristers can also set good examples for the younger choristers.

Regarding repertoire for children’s choir, the panelists suggested that the children should learn the psalm tones and basic chant. They should learn how to sing one line of music before singing multiple lines or sing with instruments. Also, Turkington and Atwood recently published a book with a collection motets for treble voices. The book, Cantate Domino, is available on amazon. A list of hymns and motets for children’s choir has also been made and hopefully I can share it in another post in the future.

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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Andrew Leung

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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Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
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“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

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“Partly on account of these alterations, and partly because I have been unable to ascertain the authorship of many compositions—which have come to me either in manuscript or through other collections—I have thought it right to publish the volume without appending the names of writers to their works. This, however, I confess to be a defect…”

— Benjamin Hall Kennedy (1863)

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