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Views from the Choir Loft

Biography • William J. Fritz

William J. Fritz · January 22, 2020

William J. Fritz is a composer, pianist, organist, liturgical musician and director of music at St. John the Baptist Parish in Costa Mesa, CA. His musical journey began as a child when he lay under the piano while his older sisters practiced for their lessons. From there, he convinced his parents to start him on piano lessons, but not before he had composed his first piano piece, being an autodidact at heart.

He flourished under the instruction of Robert Estrin of LivingPianos.com, under Esther Jones for organ studies, and under both Norman Beede and Robert Cummings for composition.

In high school, he discovered the beauty of chant, attending the St. Michael’s College Prep school, where he had the joy of listening to the canons chant the Mass and Compline every day.

He joined St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County as a seminarian and for nine years dedicated himself to learning the life they lived. While there, he began organ training and a rigorous, immersive approach to Gregorian chant, serving as apprentice to the canons during his education as seminarian. As part of the training of a seminarian, William also received a master’s in theology from the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Toronto, Canada.

After leaving the seminary, he became music director and began teaching Gregorian chant, piano, organ and composition around Southern California. The approach William has to music has been deeply molded by the spirit and technique of plainchant through the years spent daily singing and studying with the Norbertine canons.

He now lives in Southern California with his beautiful wife and three children.

He is also the founder of Cyprian Studios, providing tuition in Organ, Piano, Chant and Composition.

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

Filed Under: Biographies Last Updated: August 20, 2020

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About William J. Fritz

William J. Fritz currently serves as music director at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Costa Mesa, CA where he resides with his wife and three boys.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Hymn by Cardinal Newman
    During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“I, (Name), do declare that I do believe that there is not any Transubstantiation in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, or in the elements of the bread and wine, at or after the consecration thereof by any person whatsoever.”

— ‘From England’s Anti-Catholic Oath (1673)’

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