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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Summer Sacred Music Workshop 2017

Andrew Leung · June 29, 2017

CTL Summer Sacred Music Workshop 2017 ET EXCITED!!! The third annual Southeastern Summer Sacred Music Workshop is coming up! This year, the 2-day workshop will make its return to the Atlanta area. This is a great opportunity for singers, organists and clergy from the Southeastern United States to experience the traditional music of the Catholic Church.

The Workshop 2017 will be hosted by St. Brigid Catholic Church in beautiful Johns Creek, Georgia, on Friday, July 21, and Saturday, July 22. Johns Creek is a northeastern suburb of Atlanta and it ranked third on the USA TODAY list of “50 best cities to live in”. St. Brigid Parish is the spiritual home of more than 4,000 families and it is also the home of the 37-rank Casavant Frères Opus 3832 organ.

The Southeastern Sacred Music is a chapter of the Church Music Association of America. It serves as a platform for church musicians in the Southeastern region to share resources, thoughts and ideas, and to make connections with each other. The group has also been organizing annual workshops since 2015. Bridget Scott, a founding member of Southeastern Sacred Music, says that she is very excited for the upcoming workshop: “We have folks coming back year after year. I was excited to see names on the registry that also attended the very first workshop.”

As usual, there will be chant groups and polyphony ensembles, in different levels, which the participants may choose to join. There will also be breakout courses on a variety of topics of interest. One of the very special courses this year is the session on Spanish chant offered by Janet Gorbitz. Another interesting session is a presentation on organ improvisation on chant melodies given by Dr. Albert Ahlstrom, who is joining the faculty for the first time. Organists will also have the opportunity to have private lesson with Dr. Ahlstrom, and singers may study with Maria McDaniel Willathgamuwa.

The registration is now opened through July 7. There is a $75 tuition fee which covers the costs of all the materials, dinner on Friday and the luncheon on Saturday. There is a $25 late fee for registrations after July 7. Visit Southeastern Sacred Music’s website to register and for more details and full bios of the faculty members.

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

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

Amid all these old liturgical books, I find that I am happy and at ease; I feel at home.

— Dom André Mocquereau (1884)

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