Views from the Choir Loft

Two February Workshops

Fr. David Friel · January 13, 2019

ARLY February will feature two interesting workshops in the field of sacred music. One of these opportunities will take place in Chicago, while the other will be held in Indiana. Both promise to be beneficial for participants.

First, the Lumen Christi Institute is sponsoring a Mass for the feast of the Presentation (Candlemas) on February 2, 2019 at 9 AM in the Bond Chapel of the University of Chicago. Music for the liturgy will be provided by Schola Antiqua. Following Mass will be a breakfast and symposium, including several very scholarly speakers:

Michael Anderson (Eastman School of Music)

Margot Fassler (University of Notre Dame)

Peter Jeffery (Universtiy of Notre Dame)

Prior Peter Funk, OSB (Monastery of the Holy Cross)

Robert Kendrick (University of Chicago)

The theme of the symposium is “Sacred Music in Context and Practice.” More information is available here.

Second, the 10th annual National Winter Pastoral Chant Conference will be held February 4-8, 2019 (Monday through Friday). Sponsored each year by the Saint Basil’s School of Gregorian Chant (an institute of the University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX), the site for this conference is St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana.

More information about the Winter Pastoral Chant Conference is available here.

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

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 and teaches liturgy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.—(Read full biography).

Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn

A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!” Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Message from the Vice-President!

The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Seven (7) Hymn Verses for November!

In the month of November, we remember in a special way the souls in purgatory. The BRÉBEUF HYMNAL often includes text alone versions for its hymns; why is that? The short answer is: flexibility. The “text only” version allows each choirmaster to employ a myriad of melodies. For example, I recently set the English translation of “De Profúndis” with the DAVOST MELODY (PDF). We are singing this before November ends. Indeed, you can hear our volunteer singing this (in real life) if you click here.

—Jeff Ostrowski