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Views from the Choir Loft

“Catholic Choirmaster” • Fascinating Photo Taken 29 August 1964

Jeff Ostrowski · April 19, 2016

EARS AGO, I used to xerox copy tons of articles about musicians, conductors, pianists, sacred music, and so forth. This morning I found—stuffed into a box in my garage—an interesting page from “Catholic Choirmaster,” containing a photograph taken on 29 August 1964 at Boys Town. I believe this is when “Saint Gregory Society” merged with “Saint Cecilia Society” to form the “Church Music Association of America.” This xerox page is what I undoubtedly used to create this article.

547 Boys Town 1964 CMAA Meeting


Several in that photo are still fighting hard to promote good church music! Conspicuously absent was Roger Wager, who was probably touring. More information about Boys Town can be gleaned from these.

UPDATE :

From a reader:

You printed a picture of the original organizers of CMAA in today’s blog, and speculated that Roger Wagner might have been “on tour.” So happens that I was present for the Boys’ Town Music Workshop that preceded that organizational meeting. That year, Roger Wagner was present and—in a little less than one week of rehearsals—taught the assembled choir directors/organists/singers the entire Britten “War Requiem” and we then gave a concert performance of it with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. Side-note: Roger brought along his own soprano soloist for the piece, Carol Neblett. Small-world!! The next time I sang the piece, Carol Neblett was the soloist. That was under the baton of Ken Schermerhorn, her husband at the time, with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. I can no longer recall the scheduling, but vaguely remember that the organizational meeting was held following the workshop, so Roger (and Paul Salamunovich, and Carol) may well have left for a tour- or recording-date. Keep up the great work!!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Monsignor Francis P Schmitt Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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Jeff Ostrowski

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

4 March 2021 • Can you spare 15 seconds?

Due to Covid-19, California has basically been under “lock down” for 11 months, and these restrictions have had quite a detrimental effect on our choral programs. We are frequently limited to just 2-3 singers, on account of regulations by the government and our Archdiocese. However, although the number of singers is quite small, I was struck by the beauty of the singing last Sunday. Listen to this 15-second live excerpt and see if you agree?

—Jeff Ostrowski
3 March 2021 • “A policeman” — really?

According to Monsignor Frederick R. McManus, there were “policemen” serving the Sanhedrin in the time of Our Blessed Lord. Look at this awful translation in the 1966 “Saint Andrew Bible Missal” from 1966. Yuck!

—Jeff Ostrowski
Surprising Popularity!

One of our most popular downloads has proven to be the organ accompaniment to “The Monastery Hymnal” (131 pages). This book was compiled, arranged, and edited by Achille P. Bragers, who studied at the Lemmensinstituut (Belgium) about thirty years before that school produced the NOH. Bragers might be considered an example of Belgium “Stile Antico” whereas Flor Peeters and Jules Van Nuffel represented Belgium “Prima Pratica.” You can download the hymnal by Bragers at this link.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The liturgical reform bears absolutely no relation to what is called “desacralization” and in no way intends to lend support to the phenomenon of “secularizing the world.” Accordingly the rites must retain their dignity, spirit of reverence, and sacred character.

— Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (5 September 1970)

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