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Views from the Choir Loft

In Defense of the Organ Postlude 1

Fr. David Friel · January 30, 2017

HE SECOND issue of the new magazine, Altare Dei, from Choralife has just been published. Subtitled “A Magazine on Liturgy and Sacred Music,” this publication will be of interest to many of our readers here at CCW.

The lead story in this latest issue is a well-argued piece by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski (known to our readers as a past contributor): “In Defense of the Organ Postlude.” Against those who are disturbed by this practice, which has been common since the late Renaissance, Kwasniewski makes a case that the organ postlude should not be viewed as a distraction to the act of thanksgiving. It should be appreciated, rather, for its ability to create “a sonic image of angelic choirs, a wordless transcendent proclamation of God’s glory.” Thus, the author’s fundamental claim is that the organ postlude has the spiritual benefit of immersing its hearers in the glory of God. Want to read more? Click here to download.

Included with this issue of Altare Dei is a hefty insert with seven pieces of sheet music. Among the compositions included are an Ave Maria, an Easter Alleluia, and an organ interlude from composers such as Colin Mawby, Mauro Visconti, and Valentinus Miserachs.

A new article of mine appears in this installment. Entitled, “The Earliest Catholic Choir School,” my article explores the roots of the choir school tradition in the Roman schola of the seventh century. Fascinating pieces on a variety of liturgical and musical subjects have also been contributed by David Fagerberg (theology professor, University of Notre Dame), Rev. Thomas Kocik (priest of the Diocese of Fall River, MA), Rev. Enrico Finotti (Italian liturgist), Fulvio Rampi (Gregorian chant scholar), and others.

Altare Dei is the handiwork of Maestro Aurelio Porfiri (another past contributor to these pages). Porfiri’s experience as a choir master, conductor, organist, and music theorist has prepared him well to serve as editor of this new publication.

The magazine is distributed strictly in digital format, on a bi-monthly basis. The first issue is still available for download.

Download the latest edition here for only €6.00, and see the excellent content for yourself!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Altare Dei Magazine, Father Enrico Zoffoli, Pipe Organ, Sacred Choral Works Kwasniewski, Sheet Music Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and teaches liturgy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    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
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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The union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who are separated from it, for in the past they have unhappily left it.

— Pope Pius XI (6 January 1928)

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