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Views from the Choir Loft

PDF Download • “Missa de Angelis” (Fr. Castro)

Andrew Leung · January 5, 2017

CTL Dominus Dixit ad Me Download T HAS BEEN A WHILE since I have written here. The life in the seminary has been very busy and the Christmas season has been very intense. As I promised last time, I am going to share more about Fr. Áureo Castro, a priest, composer and music educator of the Diocese of Macau, China. 1

As I mentioned in my last post, I found a collection of choral pieces composed by local composers when I was going through old book in the seminary. One piece that I found in the collection is a setting of Missa de Angelis:

    * *  PDF • MISSA DE ANGELIS (Áureo Castro)

Missa de Angelis has always been the “pop” Gregorian Mass; it is the most widely-known and popular chant Mass setting. Fr. Áureo’s setting alternates the chant melody and the choral parts, which allows both the congregation and the choir to sing. While the internal participation is very important, it is also nice to allow the congregation to participate externally through active singing, especially the Ordinaries of the Mass. While this Mass setting is not the most difficult and complicated, the choral range is pretty wide and can be challenging. Also, you may realize there isn’t a score for the “Agnus Dei” movement; the Portuguese at the end of “Sanctus” actually indicates that Fr. Áureo didn’t compose any choral parts for the “Agnus Dei”.

So, when you are thinking about singing the “pop Mass” next time, consider about using this choral setting. I hope it will add beauty to your worship and make your Missa de Angelis more interesting. Please feel free to leave comments on our Facebook combox.



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Fr. Áureo Castro was born in 1917 at Pico, on Calendaria in the Azores, Portugal. He came to Macau in 1931 when he was 14 years old and he entered the St. Joseph Diocesan Seminary. He was ordained for the Diocese of Macau later in 1943. He was actively involved in parish ministries and the musical training of diocesan seminarians. In 1951, Fr. Áureo went to Lisbon to further study music at the National Conservatory and he graduated with distinction in music composition. He founded the St. Pius X Academy of Music upon his return to Macau. The institute not only offers music classes, but it also organized public concerts and has invited many internationally famous musicians to Macau. He dedicated his life to the promotion of music and his compositions are widely recognized. He passed away in 1993 at the age of 76.

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

Filed Under: Articles, PDF Download Last Updated: January 13, 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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Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For General Use Until Advent”
    If you conduct a volunteer choir, you might consider using this Simple Piece #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) which can be used during the rest of the liturgical season until Advent. It's based on the well known hymn tune: OLD HUNDREDTH. Rehearsal videos are available at #40691. A live recording of #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) by a volunteer choir is here (#40065).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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Tournemire could be charming or he could bite your head off. One day I could not replace him at St. Clotilde because I had a wedding to play at another church. Tournemire played on Sunday, period—that was all. He did not play weddings and so forth. (He put all that on my back.) So I went to Tournemire’s house to tell him, “Master, I am sorry but, for once, I cannot replace you. I have another obligation to fulfill.” He said, “Get out of here!” I left for good.

— Testimony of Maurice Duruflé

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