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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

Two Transatlantic Choir Tours

Fr. David Friel · September 17, 2017

WO CHOIRS of note are coming on tour through the United States in the coming month. First is the Cappella Musicale Pontificia Sistina, and second will be the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School.


Commonly known as the “Pope’s choir,” the 30 boys and 22 men of the Sistine Chapel ensemble will sing in three American cities. Dating back to the 7th century, the Sistine Chapel choir holds the distinction of being the oldest choir in the world. This will be their first tour in the United States in more than 30 years.

Msgr. Massimo Palombella has served as Master Director of the Sistine Chapel Choir since 2010. Their tour performances will include the following:

New York City • September 16, 2017 • St. Patrick’s Cathedral • 7 PM Concert

Washington, DC • September 20, 2017 • Catholic University of America • 6 PM Concert

Detroit, MI • September 23, 2017 • Detroit Opera House • 7:30 PM Concert

More information about their tour is available here.

The boys choir from Brompton Oratory in London consists of singers aged 8 to 18 who sing weekly Mass, in addition to school Masses and services, as well as a robust program of concerts and touring. They performed magnificently at a concert during Sacra Liturgia UK in 2016.

Under the direction of Charles Cole, the London Oratory Schola has five scheduled engagements during their USA Tour 2017, including three Masses and two concerts.

Cambridge, MA • October 22, 2017 • St. Paul’s, Harvard Square • 11 AM Sung Mass

Cambridge, MA • October 22, 2017 • St. Paul’s, Harvard Square • 3 PM Concert

New York City • October 26, 2017 • Church of St. Vincent Ferrer • 7:30 PM Concert

Washington, DC • October 28, 2017 • St. Thomas Apostle Church • 7 PM Concert

Washington, DC • October 29, 2017 • Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception • 4:30 PM Sung Mass

More information about the London Oratory Schola and their special United States tour is available here.


I look forward to hearing both of these distinguished choirs sing when they pass through the nation’s capital!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Charles Cole, Sistine Chapel Choir Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
    In 2003, I copied a book by Félix Bélédin (d. 1895), who was titular organist—from 1841 to 1874—at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Lyon (France). In 2008, we scanned and uploaded the book to the Lalande Online Library. Nobody knows for sure when the book was published; some believe it first appeared in the 1840s. In any event, one who examines this excerpt, showing GLORIA IX might wonder why it says the organ answers in plainsong. However, the front of the book explains, telling the organist explicitly when to “respond in plainchant.” This is something called organ alternatim. Believe it or not, the pipe organ would take turns with the choir, playing certain texts instrumentally instead of having them sung. I’m not very well-versed in this—pardon the pun—but if memory serves, ORGAN ALTERNATIM was frowned upon by the time of Pope Saint Pius X. Nevertheless, French organists kept doing it, even after it was explicitly condemned as an abuse.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (5th Sunday of Lent)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for this coming Sunday, which is the 5th Sunday of Lent (22 March 2026). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. Traditionally, this Sunday was called ‘Passion’ Sunday. Starting in 1956, certain church leaders attempted rename both ‘Passion’ Sunday and ‘Palm’ Sunday—but it didn’t work. For example, Monsignor Frederick McManus tried to get people to call PALM SUNDAY “Second Passion Sunday”—but the faithful rejected that. I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music List • (Holy Thursday, 2026)
    Readers have expressed interest in seeing the ORDER OF MUSIC I created for Holy Thursday, which is 2 April 2026. If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a more piercingly beautiful INTROIT, and I have come to absolutely love the SATB version of ‘Ubi cáritas’ we are singing (joined by our burgeoning children’s choir). I encourage all the readers to visit the feasts website, where the Propria Missae may be downloaded completely free of charge.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
    How well do you know your Gregorian hymns? Do you recognize the tune inserted into the bass line on this score? For many years, we sang the entire Mass in Gregorian chant—and I mean everything. As a result, it would be difficult to find a Gregorian hymn I don’t recognize instantly. Only decades later did I realize (with sadness) that this skill cannot be ‘monetized’… This particular melody is used for a very famous Gregorian hymn, printed in the LIBER USUALIS. Do you recognize it? Send me an email with the correct words, and I promise to tell everybody I meet about your prowess!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)
    I remember singing “Ubi Cáritas” by Maurice Duruflé at the conservatory. I was deeply moved by it. However, some feel Duruflé’s version isn’t suitable for small choirs since it’s written for 6 voices and the bass tessitura is quite low. That’s why I was absolutely thrilled to discover this “Ubi cáritas” (SATB) for smaller choirs by Énemond Moreau, who studied with OSCAR DEPUYDT (d. 1925), an orphan who became a towering figure of Catholic music. Depuydt’s students include: Flor Peeters (d. 1986); Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel (d. 1953); Arthur Meulemans (d. 1966); Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989); and Gustaaf Nees (d. 1965). Rehearsal videos for each individual voice await you at #19705. When I came across the astonishing English translation for “Ubi Cáritas” by Monsignor Ronald Knox—matching the Latin’s meter—I decided to add those lyrics as an option (for churches which have banned Latin). My wife and I made this recording to give you some idea how it sounds.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Holy, Holy, Holy”
    For vigil Masses on Saturday (a.k.a. “anticipated” Masses) we use this simpler setting of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Monsignor Jules Vyverman (d. 1989), a Belgian priest, organist, composer, and music educator who ultimately succeeded another ‘Jules’ (CANON JULES VAN NUFFEL) as director of the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium. Although I could be wrong, my understanding is that the LEMMENSINSTITUUT eventually merged with “Catholic University of Leuven” (originally founded in 1425). That’s the university Fulton J. Sheen attended.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Last Fall, however, the bishop of Augsburg in West Germany, the Most Rev. Josef Stimpfle, ordered all parishes in his diocese to have a Latin High Mass at least once a month. This policy drew a letter of warm commendation from the apostolic nuncio to West Germany, Archbishop Guido del Mestri, who termed the decree “exemplary” and added, “The way chosen by you is one desired by the whole Church.”

— Latin Liturgy Association “Newsletter” (September 1980)

Recent Posts

  • From Sentiment to Sacrament: Reclaiming Sacred Music for the Wedding Mass
  • Pipe Organ “Answers” in Plainsong?
  • “Gregorian Chant Quiz” • 24 March 2026
  • “Versions of the Psalter” • Jeff Interviews Top Biblical Scholar: Dr. Mark Giszczak
  • PDF Download • “Ubi Caritas” (SATB)

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