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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

Westminster Cathedral Choir School: Update

Dr. Lucas Tappan · February 7, 2020

Last spring many of us learned with sadness that Westminster Cathedral Choir School made the decision to reduce its boarding schedule from full-time to 5 days a week. Jeff’s recent post made me think that perhaps a recap of all the events so far would be helpful to readers.

To begin with, the school reduced its boarding schedule in an effort to attract more young boys wishing to join the choir. The idea was that parents would be more open to sending their sons off to boarding school if the boys could return home on the weekends (see flyer).

Opponents felt this would strike a death blow to the choir’s professionalism. I think there is truth in this, but not so much because rehearsal time would be reduced (although that would have an effect). The bigger reason is that currently choristers are recruited from all over the nation, creating not just a pool of possible applicants, but an ocean of boys to choose from. If the boys have to return home every weekend then that ocean is effectively drained because only boys within short driving distance of London would ever think to apply. I find it hard to imagine that in a nation of 65 million people a choir school struggles to find 4-6 suitable applicants each year. Westminster needs the best and brightest boys to make the choir work.

Perhaps more importantly and for the glory of God, a cathedral should have the sung liturgy on a daily basis, and there are some cathedrals in the world in possession of the resources to offer our Lord the apex of what we call the Church’s treasury of sacred music. Westminster Cathedral is one of them. As I am sure Westminster realizes, such a gift comes with great responsibilities, not only to the Catholics of London, but to Catholics and men and women of good will all over the world. As I currently understand it, the men of the choir do continue to sing on days when the boys are absent, however, this greatly reduces the available repertoire. Cleansing Westminster’s temple of even a couple of days of such a treasury would be a travesty, akin to chopping off the feet of Michelangelo’s David and trying to convince the world that the statue hadn’t really been tampered with.

Regardless, the schools decision has stirred up more than a bit of controversy. Last May I sent the school’s headmaster (as well as others, including Cardinal Nichols) the a letter and received the following reply:

Dear Dr Tappan,

Thank you for your letter of 7th May.

The daily sung liturgy at Westminster Cathedral continues;  the Friday evening and Saturday morning Masses will just be men’s voices only.

Recruiting eight-year-old practising Catholic boys, who can also sing, into a 24/7 boarding environment, against all the trends for both choir and preparatory schools in the UK,  has been proving exceptionally difficult.  Families want their children home at the weekends.

Our earnest hope is that these modest changes will strengthen and renew the chorister tradition, whose future is jeopardised by the status quo.

Thank you for taking the trouble to write to me, and every good wish,

Yours sincerely,

Neil McLaughlan
Head Master
Westminster Cathedral Choir School

The late Colin Mawby, former choir master who saved the school during the turbulent 60s, also weighed in on the matter in an article to the Catholic Herald. At the time I was curious to find out what Martin Baker, then current choir master, would do in response. Of course, we have since learned of his resignation at the end of last year, although it is my understanding he had not been seen at the cathedral for some time before this.

As matters currently stand, the diocese plans a review of the mission of the music program at Westminster Cathedral. I was happy to note that Andrew Reid, former Director of the Royal School of Church Music as well as former Assistant Master of Music at Westminster, will be on the review panel. According to the diocese, they are accepting “written comments and submissions from any interested parties” until February 17.

Please keep all involved in your prayers.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: February 8, 2020

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About Dr. Lucas Tappan

Dr. Lucas Tappan is a conductor and organist whose specialty is working with children. He lives in Kansas with his wife and four children.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 19th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10 August 2025). 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 feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    This Sunday’s Communion Antiphon
    This coming Sunday—10 August 2025—is the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). The COMMUNION ANTIPHON is really gorgeous, and two of its features are worth mentioning. First of all, the Gospel reading assigned is from Saint Luke, whereas the the antiphon—although it matches the account—comes from Saint Matthew. (If anyone can point to a similar example, please notify me.) Furthermore, if you look at the authentic Gregorian Chant version posted on the feasts website, you’ll notice that it’s MODE III but ends on the ‘wrong’ note. A comparable instance of such a ‘transposed’ chant would be KYRIE IV.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly
    Using “Ye” vs. “You” is rather tricky, because it depends upon which era one is trying to recreate—if that makes any sense. In other words, the rules haven’t always been the same for these two. Nevertheless, Father Philip George Caraman (the legendary Jesuit scholar) gives us a masterclass using Saint Luke’s Gospel. Father Caraman was close friends with Monsignor Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, and Sir Alec Guinness.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    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
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

It should be borne in mind that there is no preference expressed in the liturgical legislation for either “versus populum” or “ad orientem.” Since both positions enjoy the favor of law, the legislation may not be invoked to say that one position or the other accords more closely with the mind of the Church.

— ‘Congregation for Divine Worship (Vatican City), 10 April 2000’

Recent Posts

  • Is this what the new “Youth Mass” looks like?
  • “Music List” • 19th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • This Sunday’s Communion Antiphon
  • Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly
  • Installment #3 • “Serious Problems with the Lectionary Translation”

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