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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

Maestro Colin Mawby—The Newest Blogger

Andrew Leung · August 2, 2015

CTL Colin Mawby AESTRO COLIN MAWBY is one of the most well known and popular composers these days. He recently became a contributor of Castaway, a new blog focusing on choral & sacred music founded by Aurelio Porfiri.

Colin Mawby is an English organist and composer. He was the Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral and also the Choral Director for the Irish National Television and Radio Service. Perhaps Dr. Lucas Tappan can tell us even more, since he’s made an extensive study of Westminster (and even visited there, I believe). He was awarded Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. He also appeared on Sursum Corda—an EWTN documentary on sacred music and the liturgy.

The English maestro has posted quite a few short articles since April and I am sure our readers will find them interesting. In his most recent article, Three (3) Contemporary Composers of Choral Music You Should Not Overlook, Mawby mentioned the music of Benjamin Britten, Morten Lauridsen, and Avro Pärt. He said their contemporary liturgical music “reflects our culture and speaks to the souls of all listeners.”

Allow me to add a fourth composer: Colin Mawby himself, whose works should not be overlooked. His piece, Ave Verum Corpus, was sung during one of the Masses at CMAA’s Sacred Music Colloquium. This piece is definitely contemporary—but also beautiful, dignified, and truly liturgical. Mawby shares the story behind the piece in one of his posts.


He wrote some other interesting POSTS including:

— Edward Elgar’s choral music|
— How to make your choir sound better|
— A few suggestions to write a decent liturgical composition|
— Why the organ and not the guitar?|
— Is the UK still the country of choral 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 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

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
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

Random Quote

“In particular, today we must remember that our liturgy—celebrated according to the books promulgated by Saints Paul VI and John Paul II—must be preserved from any element from the ancient forms.”

— Bishops of Costa Rica —Hat tip to ‘Catholic Arena’

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