• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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

  • About
  • Symposium
  • Hymnal
  • Jogues Missal
  • Site Map
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Lux Fulgebit: Mass at Dawn of Christmas Day

Fr. David Friel · December 24, 2017

OME OF OUR readers are familiar with the wonderful community of St. Mary’s Church in Norwalk, CT. In addition to its historic church, the parish is blessed with devoted priests and very welcoming parishioners. It also boasts an exemplary music program, featuring seven distinct choirs.

The parish’s professional Schola Cantorum, under the direction of David J. Hughes, sings the complete Gregorian propers and polyphonic Ordinaries on each Sunday and Holy Day of the year.

Earlier this year, the ensemble released its first recording, Lux Fulgebit: The Mass at Dawn of Christmas Day.

This new CD presents all the musical components of a sung Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite—bells, sung lessons, motets, organ improvisations, etc.—in a living, liturgical context.

The most unique aspect of this new album is that it features the world-premiere recording of William Rasar’s Mass Christe Jesu. An obscure composer of the 16th century, Rasar served as a boy chorister at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. This Mass, written for five voices, is his only extant composition. Unusually for the time period, it is written entirely in duple meter.

In addition to the Mass Christe Jesu, the recording includes motets by Alfonso Ferrabosco (Mirabile mysterium), William Byrd (Quem terra, pontus, aethera), and Walter Lambe (Nesciens mater).

This album is a real achievement for St. Mary’s Schola Cantorum. Its 23 tracks present one hour and nine minutes of musical delight. It is also accompanied by ample background notes written by Charles Weaver, who sings bass on the recording.

If you’ve been looking for a Christmas present for yourself this year, this album is worth considering. For more information about the CD, see the parish webpage. Find the music for download on iTunes or Amazon.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Extraordinary Form 1962 Missal, Gregorian Chant, Improvisation, MP3, Recording, Traditional Latin Mass Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe to the CCW Mailing List

About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served as Parochial Vicar at Saint Anselm Church in Northeast Philly before earning a doctorate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America. He presently serves as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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

“I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed—with no good reason—Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”

— ‘Fr. Bouyer, Consilium member appointed by Pope Paul VI’

Recent Posts

  • “I Decided to Get a Plane Ticket and Fly 8,700 Miles From Singapore to Take Part.”
  • Alabama Assessment!
  • “How Has Nobody Done This Before?” • Vol. 1
  • “Exceeded Every Expectation!” • Mr. O’Brien’s Review
  • “81 Photos” • Sacred Music Symposium 2022

Copyright © 2022 Corpus Christi Watershed · Gabriel Lalemant on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.