Views from the Choir Loft

Video • The Voice of St. John Paul the Great

Andrew Leung · December 3, 2015

T IS NOT A SECRET that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is a musician. Many people know that he is a pianist. And some even guess that his retirement life probably include practicing the piano everyday. This past Sunday, Pope St. John Paul’s singing was mentioned in the homily and I was surprised that not many people know about this talent of his. So, I am going to share two videos to prove that he could sing very well.

The first video is from a Mass he celebrated at St. Peter Basilica in 1982. His chanting of the Pater Noster can be heard clearly.

If that his voice is not good enough for you in that video, try listen to this next one. This is a recording of him singing the Ave Maria by Bach and Gounod. It was recorded in 1976, two years before he was elected pope, when he was still a cardinal. This Saint can SING! The EWTN also put together some of John Paul II’s pictures in the video. Enjoy!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

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).

“Tonus Solemnior” • How old is it?

In the 1962 Missal, a section called “præfationes in tono solemniore” contains ornate melodies for the Preface. An article posted on the blog of the Church Music Association of America claims the tone comes from “the late 19th century” and said its elimination “is one of the very few good things which the post-Conciliar reform did for Gregorian chant.” The author said: “The Roman solemn preface tone is already beautiful enough, there was no need to give a more Romantic feel.”

Some have asked us whether the tonus solemnior comes from “the late 19th century.” It does not. Their author was wrong by at least 400 years. I have seen this tone in MSS from the 1400s—and it may go back even further. Here is an example from 1494AD. And here’s another from the 1400s. The FSSP priests use these tones on high feasts, and the effect is unforgettable.

—Jeff Ostrowski

6 January 2022 • Quick!

A short version of the INTROIT for the feast of the Epiphany has been added to the Saint René Goupil Gregorian Chant Website.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Confusing Feasts of Christmas

Whether one considers the Missale Vetustum or the post-conciliar calendar—or even the 1908 calendar—the feasts which follow Christmas are very confusing. Last year I created this comparison chart. I hope you find it helpful. As far as I can tell, my chart is the first effort to carefully detail the changes made to post-Christmas feasts (unless we also count the rather basic one by Lauren Pristas).

—Jeff Ostrowski