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Views from the Choir Loft

It is Finished

Andrew Leung · April 6, 2017

CTL It is Finished EING A SEMINARIAN requires me to offer my whole self to God and the Church, which also means that I don’t always get to do what I like. I definitely don’t get as much opportunities and time to get involved in church music as I used to. But because of this change, I learned to be thankful for each opportunity and I pray more intensely every time I sing.

During this season of Lent, I have been reflecting on the last words of our crucified Lord, “It is finished”. These very last words of Christ show his complete humility and obedience to God the Father.

From a human perspective, one should be very proud after knowing that he has saved many lives. And one would probably proudly look at the result, the numbers and the outcome of his works and sacrifice. However, our Lord chose to conclude his sacrifice with “It is finished”, and this is true humility.

For us, musicians, humility is not an easy virtue to obtain. We are taught to be confident, strong, not to stop and not to apologize after playing a wrong note. And we are always pursuing and striving for beauty and perfection. Humility, of course, doesn’t conflict with the above. Sacred music makes us realize the greatness of God and help us to stay humble before Him, who is the source of all beauty and perfection.

Christ’s last words are a great lesson on humility. They show the right attitude that a church musician should have as he serves. May the Lord help us not to focus on our success, glory and the words of praise from others; but help us to conclude every Mass and postlude with: “It is finished.”

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 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

19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”

I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.

—Jeff Ostrowski
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?

This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that sounds like harmonized plainsong.

—Jeff Ostrowski
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition

As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed—with no good reason—Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”

— ‘Fr. Bouyer, Consilium member appointed by Pope Paul VI’

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