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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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Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Some are called not to much speaking, | nor to conversations about the Church, | but, rather, to a deep silence | and to a life hidden in the heart of the Church, | far from wrangling tongues, from speculations, and discord. […] This is the essence of a Eucharistic monastic life.

— Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby (Meditation on Colossians 3:3)

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