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Views from the Choir Loft

Incredible News! • Re: Mæstro Richard J. Clark

Jeff Ostrowski · October 22, 2018

87289 RICHARD J CLARK UR VERY OWN contributor has been appointed to one of America’s most prominent sacred music positions! Richard J. Clark has been named DIRECTOR OF MUSIC of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

One of the most sought after liturgical musicians and composers, it is no wonder Richard has been asked to lead music for the fourth largest Archdiocese in the United States. A dedicated servant of the church, Clark’s compositions range from humble settings (for simple parishes) to works performed by the finest choir and musicians in the world. In addition to being a husband and father, he maintains a pretty nifty website.

In some ways, his path to becoming a church musician was unlikely. At age nine, my understanding is that he declared, “being a church musicians has to be the lowest musical aspiration possible.” Instead of beginning studies at a conservatory, be began at Berklee College of Music. Interestingly, it was there he discovered composition in the styles of J. S. Bach and Palestrina. Somewhat late in life he began playing the organ—not until his early twenties. Yet, he fell in love with the instrument so instantly, he quickly become one of Boston’s most notable organists, performing in the Boston Symphony Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral (New York), Saint-Eustache (Paris), and so forth.

87279 Richard


Richard is at ease with a vast array of musical styles; from Gregorian Chant to classical to jazz and pop. This eclectic background informs his unique voice as a composer. Always filtered through the prism of reverence and prayer, any influence Clark draws from results in a work surging with emotion and spirit. Perhaps most importantly, Richard’s experience of working in parishes for decades makes him eminently qualified to guide an archdiocese. While he is devoted to and respects the traditional music of the Church, Richard’s hand in many musical styles affords him the ability to see multiple points of view. He has had a gift for unifying musicians and people (no mater how diverse) in prayer through sacred music. By the way, several of Richard’s hymn settings were chosen to be in the Brébeuf hymnal, and they’re absolutely marvelous—I think people will really enjoy them.

87286 Fenway Park in 2017. 87287-Richard-Clark-Organ 87288-Orchestra-Rehearsal-2017

Never doubt one thing: Richard is a man of INTEGRITY. 1

I was blessed to make his acquaintance through a mutual friend, Edmund G. Murray (who is also a phenomenal church musician). About half a decade ago, I served on the faculty of the CMAA Colloquium, and we both ended up stranded in the same airport for a few hours. We had a wonderful talk, and I’m happy to say we’ve been friends ever since. In light of this sensational appointment, wherein he’s now the musical leader of the Archdiocese of Boston, I can only say one thing: “Please don’t forget the little people, Richard!”



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   How many people can you say that about these days? Honestly?

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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Jeff Ostrowski

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Can You Spare 33 Seconds?

Here’s an audio excerpt (33 seconds) of a setting for Kyrie VIII which was recorded live last Sunday at our parish in Los Angeles. The setting (“Missa de Angelis”) is by composer Richard Rice, and you can download the free PDF if you click here and scroll to the bottom. I think Richard’s composition is marvelous. I missed a few notes on the organ, but I’ll get them right next time.

—Jeff Ostrowski
5 April 2021 • When Girls Sing

Covid restrictions here in California are still extremely severe—switching “two weeks to flatten the curve” into “two years to flatten the curve.” Since 2020, we’ve had police breaking into our church to check if everyone is wearing a mask…even when only 5-6 people are present! But we were allowed to have a small percentage of our singers back on Easter Sunday, and here is their live recording of the ancient Catholic hymn for Eastertide: Ad Cenam Agni Providi. The girls were so very excited to sing again—you can hear it in their voices!

—Jeff Ostrowski
29 March 2021 • FEEDBACK

“E.S.” in North Dakota writes: “I just wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you have put—and continue to put—into your wonderful website. In the past two years, my parish has moved from a little house basement into a brand new church and gone from a few families receiving Low Masses twice a month to several families (and many individuals) receiving Mass every Sunday, two Saturdays a month, and every Holy Day. Our priest has been incorporating more and more High Masses and various ceremonies into our lives, which has made my job as a huge newbie choir master very trying and complicated. CCWatershed has been an invaluable resource in helping me get on my feet and know what to do!!! Thank you more than I can express! May God bless you abundantly and assist you in your work and daily lives!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

Yet, with all its advantages, the new Missal was published as if it were a work put together by professors, not a phase in a continual growth process. Such a thing never happened before. It is absolutely contrary to the laws of liturgical growth, and it has resulted in the nonsensical notion that Trent and Pius V had “produced” a Missal four hundred years ago.

— Josef Cardinal Ratzinger (1986)

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