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Views from the Choir Loft

Brave Schola Director Posts iPhone Recording

Jeff Ostrowski · September 30, 2019

NE OF THE CHOIRS I direct has rehearsal every Thursday night. We did something rare on 26 September 2019—we canceled rehearsal. Instead, the singers from that choir sang for a special Mass, since it was the feast of the Jesuit Martyrs of North America: SS. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and companions.

The balance of voices isn’t quite right—as we would expect from an iPhone resting in somebody’s pocket—but here’s a little Palestrina:


And here’s some Guerrero—with the normal caveats 1 about trying to capture choral sound:


Sometimes it seems like evil will prevail. Sometimes it seems we choirmasters have so many obstacles to overcome. Reading the lives of the Jesuit Martyrs of North America will remind us that serving Jesus Christ is all that matters. Let us repeat the prayer of St. Gabriel Lalemant during his martyrdom: “Jesus, have mercy on us!”



NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   Choral sound cannot accurately be captured by microphones, and necessarily sounds “harsh” when reproduced on an iPhone or some other device. Nothing can substitute for the physical presence of a true choral sound.

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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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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Quick Thoughts

    Symposium Draft Schedule Released!
    Those who head over to the Symposium Website will notice the tentative schedule for 2023 has been released. This is all very exciting! Very soon, we will begin accepting applications, so please make sure you have subscribed to our mailing list. If you are subscribed, that means you'll hear announcements before anyone else. (It’s incredibly easy to subscribe to our mailing list; just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.)
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Good Friday Polyphony by L. Senfl
    The editor of the Sacred Music Magazine recently made available to the public this splendid article by our own Charles Weaver. It includes an edition of polyphony for the GOOD FRIDAY “Reproaches.” Renaissance composers often set the various offices of Holy Week; e.g. readers will probably be familiar with the beautiful TENEBRAE setting by Father Tomás Luis de Victoria (d. 1611). From what I can tell, Ludwig Senfl (d. 1543) was originally a Catholic priest, but eventually was seduced by Luther and ended up abandoning the sacred priesthood.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Coming Soon! • Symposium 2023
    A few weeks ago, dates were announced for Sacred Music Symposium 2023. The rehearsal videos are beginning to appear! For example, the KYRIE ELEYSON contains sections by Lassus, Victoria, and Palestrina. You can see and hear Part 1 at this link. Much more information about this wonderful conference will be released soon!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

In the United States, Archbishop Kenrick had said in his “Moral Theology” that it was acceptable to sing the “Véni Sáncte Spíritus” before the sermon.

— Monsignor Schmitt (1977)

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