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Views from the Choir Loft

Sean McDermott’s “Virgo Dei Genitrix”

Jeff Ostrowski · March 16, 2016

664 Our Lady OME TIME AGO, I wrote an article which pointed out that a diversity of opinion exists regarding whether choir members should be paid to sing at Mass. I noted that some of my good friends employ paid singers while others do not. There are advantages and disadvantages to either scenario. I explained that my preference is to recruit singers from the congregation and teach them the traditional music of the church. I also mentioned that—in my experience—when church singers are paid, it can sometimes (not always) be difficult to know if they are attending Mass for the right reasons, which can potentially be problematic.

I received several nasty emails from people who failed to carefully read my article. One accused me of “condemning the practice of paid singers.” (I did no such thing.) Another told me forcefully I had no right to share with others my experiences.

I WAS RECENTLY SENT this “live” recording of a composition by Sean McDermott. It was sung by a church choir with twenty-four paid singers! I find the performance quite beautiful—especially around the 1:30 mark—and it certainly does demonstrate the advantages of paid church singers:

    * *  Mp3 “Live” Recording • Virgo Dei Genitrix (Sean McDermott)

Here’s what Mr. McDermott has written about his piece:

Virgo Dei Genitrix is an SATB (div.) setting that I wrote specifically for the Choir of St. James Episcopal, Los Angeles, where James Buonemani is choirmaster. It is noticeably French in style, whose opening salvo is stated by Tenors and Basses in four parts. It is intended to be sung within the context of the Mass and is an appropriate and accessible motet for any Marian feast day.

Learn more at the website of Sean McDermott.

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 Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Let us ponder the incontrovertible fact that Eucharistic Adoration in the Ordinary Form (“Novus Ordo”) is always and everywhere celebrated “ad orientem.” Why, then, is there such opposition to Mass being celebrated in that way, which is actually stipulated by the 1970 Missal rubrics?

— A Benedictine Monk (2013)

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