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Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

Biography • Patrick Torsell

Patrick Torsell · January 14, 2020

ATRICK TORSELL is the the second of four siblings, born and reared in the rolling hills of central Pennsylvania. After watching an episode of “The Joy of Music with Diane Bish” at age eight, he told his mother that he wanted to learn the pipe organ. Thanks to the devotion and sacrifices of his parents, he was able to take organ lessons and find a home practice organ, and by age 11 he was playing regularly for the local Catholic parish. Patrick’s father introduced him to the Traditional Latin Mass, which spurred on a deep love for Gregorian Chant, traditional hymnody, and sacred polyphony. His current full-time profession is in the ski resort industry in Colorado, where he also serves as a Staff Substitute Organist at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, CO, and Associate Organist at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Littleton, CO, an apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).

*  PATRICK TORSELL • Publicity Photo

Patrick completed undergraduate studies in Ski Area Operations and has worked in the ski resort business for 12 years. He also spent two years of study and discernment at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, NE, where much of his time was devoted to sacred music as a seminary organist, chant tutor, and member of the polyphonic choir. He served for two years as organist, and two more as Choirmaster, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Stowe, Vermont, a role once held by the famous Maria Von Trapp. He was later the organist at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish in Littleton, CO for four years. At Mater Dei he directed two adult choirs including an auditioned choir with professional section leaders, and an open-membership choir, in addition to a youth and children’s Chorister program comprising more than 80 students ages 7-18 who learn not only the fundamentals of singing, but also history, philosophy, and theory of Gregorian Chant and Sacred Music.

Patrick also produces Chant Talk, a YouTube series discussing Gregorian Chant, especially accompaniment and chironomy, and other sacred music topics. His focus has always been liturgical music, but he also maintains a leisurely organ performance schedule and enjoys playing jazz piano and fingerstyle guitar for fun. In his leisure time, Patrick enjoys skiing, classic cars, remodeling old homes, and smoking an occasional cigar with a single malt Scotch.

 

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

Filed Under: Biographies Last Updated: May 31, 2023

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About Patrick Torsell

Patrick Torsell is a staff substitute organist at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, CO, and associate organist at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (FSSP), Littleton, CO—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 22nd in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 31 August 2025, which is the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Mass Propers for this Sunday are conveniently stored at the spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “The Worm That Dieth Not”
    My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin with reflections on the sacred liturgy and church music. In my most recent article, I discuss “The Worm That Dieth Not.” At this website, you can access it conveniently; simply scroll down to the one dated 31 August 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“The Church, which so long had preserved Latin consciously as a bond of unity, had quite suddenly decided to discard it as a useless encumbrance. With this rejection, and as an almost inevitable consequence, went out the window also the whole magnificent musical heritage of the Church. For when you change your language you also change your song. The Jewish exiles hanging their harps beside the waters of Babylon, so long ago, made that discovery.”

— Most Rev’d Robert J. Dwyer, Archbishop of Portland (26 October 1973)

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