Views from the Choir Loft

Summer Sacred Music Workshop • This Weekend!

Andrew Leung · July 21, 2016

HE WORKSHOP is finally here. The Summer Sacred Music Workshop 2016 will be held at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Chattanooga this weekend, from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening. Information including the full schedule of this year’s workshop can be found on the official website of Southeastern Sacred Music. I am sad to inform everyone that I won’t be able to attend this workshop. I will stay in touch with the faculty members and post a report about the event later. I am also hoping to release here, on Views from the Choir Loft, the two plenary talks: “The Spiritual Fruits of Gregorian Chant” by Dr. Jennifer Donelson and “The Revolution of Obedience” by Fr. David Carter.

Everyone is invited to join the Solemn Vespers at the basilica at 7pm on Friday. Fr. Samuel Weber, OSB, has been commissioned to develop the program for this Sung Vespers. It will be premiered on the very first Feast of St. Mary Magdalene.

Following Vespers, there will be an organ recital featuring four talented organist: Joseph D’Amico, Bruce Ludwick Jr., Ericka McCarty and Andrea Tierney. This organ recital will showcase the basilica’s historic pipe organ as the King of Instruments of sacred music. A range of musical styles and levels of difficulty will be presented, as an inspiration for all parishes and aspiring organists. There is also an “Open Mic” opportunity for organists attending the workshop.

The Closing Mass at 4pm on Saturday is also open to the public. The Sung Mass will be offered in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite by Fr. David Carter, the rector of the basilica. The music, including the Propers, Gregorian Ordinaries and two motets, will be provided by the participants.

Don’t miss these events and the basilica’s holy door if you are in the area! Please keep all the attendees in your prayers, for safe travels and fruitful experience.

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).

“Music List” • 9 Nov. (Dedic. Lateran)

Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 9 November 2025, which is the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the sensational feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.

—Jeff Ostrowski

PDF Download • Offertory (9 Nov.)

This year, the feast of 9 November replaces the Sunday. The OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF file) for 9 November is exceedingly beautiful. The ‘Laterani’ mansion at Rome was the popes’ residence for a thousand years. The church there still is the cathedral church of Rome—“Mother and Head of all churches of the City and of the World,” says the inscription over the entrance. It is dedicated to Our Holy Savior, but has long been commonly known as “St. John Lateran” owing to its famous baptistery of St. John the Baptist. In this church, the pope’s own ‘cathedra’ (episcopal chair) stands in the apse.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Job Opening • $65,000 per year +

A parish 15 minutes away from me is looking for a choir director and organist. The parish is filled with young families. When I began my career, I would have jumped at such an opportunity! Saint Patrick’s in Grand Haven has a job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year including benefits (plus weddings & funerals). Notice the job description says: “our vision for sacred music is to move from singing at Mass to truly singing the Mass wherein … especially the propers, ordinaries, and dialogues are given their proper place.” I lived in Kansas for 15 years, Texas for 10 years, and Los Angeles for 10 years. Michigan is the closest place I know to heaven!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Reminder” — Month of November (2025)

On a daily basis, I speak to people who don’t realize we publish a free newsletter (although they’ve followed our blog for years). We have no endowment, no major donors, no savings, and refuse to run annoying ads. As a result, our mailing list is crucial to our survival. Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Gospel Options for 2 November (“All Souls”)

We’ve been told some bishops are suppressing the TLM because of “unity.” But is unity truly found in the MISSALE RECENS? For instance, on All Souls (2 November), any of these Gospel readings may be chosen, for any reason (or for no reason at all). The same is true of the Propria Missæ and other readings—there are countless options in the ORDINARY FORM. In other words, no matter which OF parish you attend on 2 November, you’ll almost certainly hear different propers and readings, to say nothing of different ‘styles’ of music. Where is the “unity” in all this? Indeed, the Second Vatican Council solemnly declared: “Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community.”

—Corpus Christi Watershed

“Our Father” • Musical Setting?

Looking through a Roman Catholic Hymnal published in 1859 by Father Guido Maria Dreves (d. 1909), I stumbled upon this very beautiful tune (PDF file). I feel it would be absolutely perfect to set the “Our Father” in German to music. Thoughts?

—Jeff Ostrowski