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Jesus said to them: “I have come into this world so that a sentence may fall upon it, that those who are blind should see, and those who see should become blind. If you were blind, you would not be guilty. It is because you protest, ‘We can see clearly,’ that you cannot be rid of your guilt.”

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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

    How Well Does ICEL Know Latin?
    This year, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June 2025) falls on a Sunday. It’s not necessary to be an eminent Latin scholar to be horrified by examples like this, which have been in place since 1970. For the last 55 years, anyone who’s attempted to correct such errors has been threatened with legal action. It is simply unbelievable that the (mandatory) texts of the Holy Mass began being sold for a profit in the 1970s. How much longer will this gruesome situation last?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Is the USCCB trolling us?
    I realize I’m going to come across as a “Negative Nancy” … but I can’t help myself. This kind of stuff is beyond ridiculous. There are already way too many options in the MISSALE RECENS. Adding more will simply confuse the faithful even more. We seriously need to band together and start creating a “REFORM OF THE REFORM” Missale Romanum so it will be ready when the time comes.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Common” Responsorial Psalm?
    I try to avoid arguing about liturgical legislation (even with Catholic priests) because it seems like many folks hold certain views—and nothing will persuade them to believe differently. You can show them 100 church documents, but it matters not. They won’t budge. Sometimes I’m confronted by people who insist that “there’s no such thing” as a COMMON RESPONSORIAL PSALM. When that happens, I show them a copy of the official legislation in Latin. I have occasionally prevailed by means of this method.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    When to Sit, Stand and Kneel like it’s 1962
    There are lots of different guides to postures for Mass, but I couldn’t find one which matched our local Latin Mass, so I made this one: sit-stand-kneel-crop
    —Veronica Brandt
    The Funeral Rites of the Graduale Romanum
    Lately I have been paging through the 1974 Graduale Romanum (see p. 678 ff.) and have been fascinated by the funeral rites found therein, especially the simply-beautiful Psalmody that is appointed for all the different occasions before and after the funeral Mass: at the vigil/wake, at the house of the deceased, processing to the church, at the church, processing to the cemetery, and at the cemetery. Would that this “stational Psalmody” of the Novus Ordo funeral rites saw wider usage! If you or anyone you know have ever used it, please do let me know.
    —Daniel Tucker

Random Quote

I want to say one thing to you strongly, especially today: virginity for the Kingdom of God is not a “no,” it is a “yes!”

— Pope Francis (10/4/2013)

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  • Is the USCCB trolling us?
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  • “Common” Responsorial Psalm?

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