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

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Views from the Choir Loft

New England Catholic Choral Festival & Mass • 2019

Richard J. Clark · January 11, 2019

T’S NEVER just about the music. Singing liturgical music from the great rich heritage of our Roman Catholic faith is about something else: nurturing faith through the Sacred Liturgy.

If you are not familiar with the American Federation Pueri Cantores choir festivals, I urge you to explore this opportunity which is open to any young singers. Girls and boys (grades 4-12) are welcome to sing in the New England Choral Festival and Mass. This festival is not reserved for an exclusive club of singers. Rather it is wide open to those hoping to learn more about our rich heritage of Roman Catholic sacred music from Gregorian Chant to sacred music of the present day. The festival culminates with hundreds of students combining as one choir singing for the Mass. This takes place in a nurturing, positive, and joyful environment!

As the rehearsal accompanist and organist for last year’s Festival in Boston, I can attest to this wonderfully positive environment. (As an adult, even I greatly enjoyed it and could learn from it!) Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley was last year’s celebrant and homilist which added to a marvelously faith filled experience. (My hope is to host the 2020 New England Festival at the newly renovated Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Stay tuned.)

HIS YEAR’S New England Festival will take place Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 11am culminating with Mass at 5:15 pm • St. Mary’s Church, 12 William St., Newport, RI 02840. The church is gorgeous, and interestingly is the site of the wedding of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy.

• Download information, Schedule, registration, repertoire, etc. here:
• PDF Download • New England Catholic Youth Choral Festival and Mass • 2019.

• You can also download the Public Domain music for the festival here. Recordings made available to make this process much easier.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

“Participation in Pueri Cantores can be a formational and transformational experience through the Liturgy for both choristers and conductors.” (Pueri Cantores website)

• Offer your singers a combined worship experience with Catholic school and parish youth choirs from all around the region and network with your conductor colleagues

• Teach accessible, historically balanced repertoire from the great treasury of Catholic sacred music that can be incorporated into your choir’s repertoire

• Receive advanced conducting training from one of the leading Catholic conductors in the nation

• School conductors whose choirs participate will be offered 8 Professional Development Credits by AFPC, corporate partner of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)

I urge all educators, conductors, and parents to consider taking part in this one-day experience. Its joy may resonate for years to come.

HIS YEAR’S clinician will be Dr. Steven R. Seigart, conductor, organist, and composer based in the NYC area. An extraordinary talent, he is currently the Director of Music at The Church of Saint Joseph in Bronxville, NY, where he directs five choirs, founded the period-instrument Orchestra of Saint Joseph, and oversees the St. Joseph Concert Series.

We hope to see you there!

Soli Deo gloria

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: American Federation Pueri Cantores Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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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

The “Nova Organi Harmonia” demanded from each of us an unusual commitment; we have dedicated to it the best of our energies. Would it be, therefore, presumptuous on our part to be satisfied with the result and to expect its welcome reception in the musical world?

— Msgr. Jules Van Nuffel (circa 1940)

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