Views from the Choir Loft

Art of the Beautiful Lecture Series 2019-2020

Fr. David Friel · September 24, 2019

VER THE last several years, an important lecture series has unfolded in New York City. Organized by The Catholic Artists Society, the Art of the Beautiful series takes place at the Catholic Center at NYU. The society, according to its self-description, “seeks to encourage the ongoing artistic and spiritual development of artists and media professionals, so that their work may more perfectly reflect God’s glory, enriching and ennobling men and women, our society and our culture.”

The association’s lectures always pertain in some way to the field of aesthetics. The overarching theme this year is “Understanding How the Catholic Faith Informs the Arts,” and the talks will touch on topics in film, sacred music, literature, and history.

Of particular interest to our readers may be the presentation on November 8th by Sir James Macmillan, one of the foremost composers writing today. (Incidentally, an interesting interview with Macmillan was recently published by National Review.)

The speakers and topics for this season will include:

T.J. Berden, filmmaker and producer of Paul, Apostle of Christ and Full of Grace (Friday, September 27, 2019)

Sir James Macmillan, composer and conductor (Friday, November 8, 2019)

James Matthew Wilson, poet, critic, and associate professor of literature at Villanova University (Tuesday, February 8, 2020)

Rev. Timothy Valentine, Diocese of Rockville Center (Tuesday, March 31, 2020)

Bronwen McShea, author, artist, associate research scholar with Princeton University’s James Madison Program (Tuesday, April 21, 2020)

The lectures all take place at the Catholic Center at NYU. Donations are requested from non-members. Starting times for the presentations vary; details to be found on the series poster.

About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served for five years as Parochial Vicar at St. Anselm Parish in Northeast Philly. He is currently a doctoral candidate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Too much music!

Choosing music for the Sacred Music Symposium requires careful consideration. We make sure (always) to have great variety. Because the schedule is so full, there’s never sufficient time to discuss the music fully—indeed, we could easily do a month-long seminar on each piece! For example, last year Dr. Calabrese conducted a setting of the Magnificat by Father Guerrero (d. 1599). It is one of the most magnificent (pardon the pun) pieces ever written, and I wish I had time to point out the brilliant way he syncopates the word “dispersit,” which means “He has scattered” or “He has dispersed.” Superb!

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Sharing Is Caring”

I would like to share a message from a highly respected scholar. (His articles appear in distinguished journals such as Études grégoriennes and Oxford’s Early Music.) He wrote as follows:

The Brébeuf Hymnal is very tastefully done. Your team has exquisite literary and musical taste. I see from my copy of the hymnal that you also set Ex more docti to “Rockingham” (one of my favorite melodies for “When I survey the wondrous cross”). I especially appreciate the background information at the bottom of the page. When I played at the Lutheran church, I would always have a little note about the music, sometimes about a hymn, if the “Hymnal Companion” offered something of interest. The church we attend has battered Worship II hymnals (one per pew), but almost nobody seems to want to sing. I congratulate you on the staggering amount of work it took to produce the Brébeuf hymnal: excellent contents and production.

—Jeff Ostrowski

What Frightens Me

The world’s experts have been releasing contradictory statements Re: Covid-19. I am neither a doctor nor a scientist, so I won’t comment; but I have something to say about the spine-tingling predictions made by certain politicians. When I was growing up, they told us “within ten years” we would starve due to overpopulation. The next year, they said “within ten years” we would fry due to global warming. The next year, they told us “within ten years” the oceans would have no fish because of overfishing. The next year, they told us “within ten years” the deficit would become unsustainable and we’d all go bankrupt. The next year, they told us “within ten years” there would be no clean water due to pollution. None of these things happened.

I believe in taking every precaution. I urge our readers to take Covid-19 seriously. At the same time, we have an obligation to consider the effects of our “reaction”—yet few seem to be doing this. And that really scares me.

—Jeff Ostrowski