Views from the Choir Loft

“Meet Me In St. Louis”

Lucas Tappan · November 21, 2017

HILE THE SUMMERS IN ST. LOUIS might be insufferable, the autumn weather often proves a treat. The colorful foliage and city skyline set against the Arch and the river delight the eye, although nothing so much as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Perhaps I am biased, (having spent part of my youth in its shadow, if 30 miles is close enough to be considered “in the shadow”), but I consider this church the most beautiful Catholic edifice in these United States and am always happy to return. A few weeks ago I was able to make the pilgrimage again, only this time with a choir in tow, and thanks to the hospitality of the ever convivial Dr. Buchholz, our Schola Cantorum had a marvelous time.

Jeff O. recently asked if directors take pictures of their choirs and I can’t say that I do, but thankfully others did and one parent even recorded several pieces with his iPhone. I thought I would share those with you today and I hope you enjoy!

* * Exultate Deo • A. Scarlatti (1660-1725)

* * Ave Maria • C. Wulke (b. 1989)

* * Te Deum in C • C. V. Stanford (1852-1924)

* * Postlude in D minor (Op. 105, no. 6) • C. V. Stanford (1852-1924)

(Played by John Deahl, my assistant)

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

About Lucas Tappan

Dr. Lucas Tappan is a conductor and organist whose specialty is working with children. He lives in Kansas with his wife and four children.—(Read full biography).

Surprising Popularity!

One of our most popular downloads has proven to be the organ accompaniment to “The Monastery Hymnal” (131 pages). This book was compiled, arranged, and edited by Achille P. Bragers, who studied at the Lemmensinstituut (Belgium) about thirty years before that school produced the NOH. Bragers might be considered an example of Belgium “Stile Antico” whereas Flor Peeters and Jules Van Nuffel represented Belgium “Prima Pratica.” You can download the hymnal by Bragers at this link.

—Jeff Ostrowski

15 February 2021 • To Capitalize…?

In the Introit for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost, there is a question regarding whether to capitalize the word “christi.” The Vulgata does not, because Psalm 27 is not specifically referring to Our Lord, but rather to God’s “anointed one.” However, Missals tend to capitalize it, such as the official 1962 Missal and also a book from 1777 called Missel de Paris. Something tells me Monsignor Knox would not capitalize it.

—Jeff Ostrowski

15 February 2021 • “Sung vs. Spoken”

We have spoken quite a bit about “sung vs. spoken” antiphons. We have also noted that the texts of the Graduale Romanum sometimes don’t match the Missal texts (in the Extraordinary Form) because the Mass Propers are older than Saint Jerome’s Vulgate, and sometimes came from the ITALA versions of Sacred Scripture. On occasion, the Missal itself doesn’t match the Vulgate—cf. the Introit “Esto Mihi.” The Vulgate has: “Esto mihi in Deum protectórem et in domum refúgii…” but the Missal and Graduale Romanum use “Esto mihi in Deum protectórem et in locum refúgii…” The 1970s “spoken propers” use the traditional version, as you can see.

—Jeff Ostrowski