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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

2nd Macau International Choir Festival

Andrew Leung · April 27, 2017

CTL 2nd Macau International Choir Festival UILDING ON THE SUCCESS of last year’s choir festival, the Second Macau International Choir Festival will be held from December 6 to December 10. This year, the Diocese of Macau and the cathedral parish will join as the co-organizers of the festival. The Catholic Church has always been the greatest patron of music; Macau, as the first Catholic diocese in the Far East, is going to take part in the promotion of sacred music.

This year, participants would have the opportunity to sing for the diocesan Mass on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the patron of the Diocese of Macau, at the historic Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady. Participating choirs will also have the chance to perform in other historical sites including: the Church of St. Lawrence (the first parish in Macau, over 400 years old), the Church of St. Dominic (built by Dominicans 400 years ago, former motherhouse of the missionary friars in the Far East) and the Ruins of St. Paul (landmark of Macau and the ruins of the first theological institute in the Far East, founded by the Jesuits in 1583).

The Macau International Choir Festival is a non-competitive festival. The festival is a unique endeavor in an international choral scene that will combine different artistic innovation, professional performance development and intercultural collaborations of different choirs from the world in the magic of the island of Macau.

For more information and registration, please contact Barrie Briones at cantatamacau@outlook.com. The deadline for registration is August 20, 2017.

CTL 2nd Macau International Choir Festival 3 ERSONALLY, I found hosting guest choirs for choral liturgies a very efficient way to promote sacred music. We are very blessed to be an international city and be able to have visiting choirs from around the world. Holding concerts and choral services really help increasing the faithful’s appreciation for the music of the Church. Since my arrival at the Macau Cathedral last September, we have had three different choirs visited us already and we are looking forward to the others from Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK in the coming year.

And for your interest, here are two videos of our previous guest choirs’ programs, back in December, at the Macau Cathedral. (We were visited recently by the Schola Cantorum of the Oratory School too and were blessed to be able to hear them during the Choral Mass, but the video has not yet been uploaded.) Enjoy!

Lessons and Carols Service by St. John’s Voices of the University of Cambridge

Lessons and Carols Service by the Choir of Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge

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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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Why A “Fugue” Here?
    I believe I know why this plainsong harmonizer created a tiny fugue as the INTRODUCTION to his accompaniment. Take a look (PDF) and tell me your thoughts about what he did on the feast of the Flight of Our Lord Jesus Christ into Egypt (17 February). And now I must go because “tempus fugit” as they say!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)
    Those who don’t sign up for our free EMAIL NEWSLETTER miss important notifications. Last week, for example, I sent a message about this job opening for a music director paying $65,000 per year plus 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.” Signing up couldn’t be easier: simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Did they simplify these hymn harmonies?
    Choirs love to sing the famous & splendid tune called “INNSBRUCK.” Looking through a (Roman Catholic) German hymnal printed in 1952, I discovered what appears to be a simplified version of that hymn. In other words, their harmonization is much less complex than the version found in the Saint Jean de Brébeuf Hymnal (which is suitable for singing by SATB choir). Please download their 1952 harmonization (PDF) and let me know your thoughts. I really like the groovy Germanic INTRODUCTION they added.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The 1960s reformers had no chance of success since their goal was “recasting from top to bottom—and in a few months!—an entire liturgy which had required twenty centuries to develop.”

— Professor Louis Bouyer, close friend of Pope Saint Paul VI

Recent Posts

  • Why A “Fugue” Here?
  • “Three Reasons To Shun Bad Hymns” • Daniel B. Marshall
  • “Puzzling Comment” • By A Respected FSSP Priest
  • New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
  • “Reminder” — Month of October (2025)

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