• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

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.”

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
    • Jeff’s Mom Joins Fundraiser
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Why Should You Come to the Symposium?

Andrea Leal · February 25, 2020

VER the last few years I have been volunteering my time to help the FSSP apostolate in Los Angeles organize the Sacred Music Symposium. I have spoken to many Catholics in the process of accepting participants into the Symposium, and what I found quite striking was how many of them had either been suddenly thrust into a position of starting a choir, or could see it looming clearly on the horizon. I was astonished to realize that the renewal of the traditional liturgy and of authentic sacred music is a very real thing, and that it is developing rapidly all over America (indeed, all over the world).

In every parish there will always be that one person who is the most capable of starting a choir. Usually it’s someone who has had some musical training in the past or has a natural talent for music. They are not necessarily a highly qualified individual with a music degree, but they have a deep and abiding love for the Holy Mass and for beautiful music. They are the ones who end up in the trenches, so to speak, trying to gather up people and teach them to sing for the Mass – with little to no resources.

That is why this year’s Symposium (June 15 -June 19 in Los Angeles) is going to be particularly useful to all of us who are in the “trenches”. This year’s focus is on making your volunteer choir sound absolutely stunning. You will be trained in useful rehearsal techniques and you will be given real world advice for improving your choir. This is the kind of information you will be able to put into immediate use at your parish upon your return home.

But lest you think that this is only for directors of new choirs, rest assured that even if you are a seasoned music director, you will come away with excellent methods of improving your choir, even if they are already doing well. Dr. Horst Buchholz, Dr. Alfred Calabrese, Maestro Kevin Allen, and others will be present to share their professional secrets with you.

If you want to improve your volunteer choir, send an e-mail to dom.mocquereau@gmail.com to request an application (please be sure to include a phone number where we can reach you).

And if you aren’t sure that the Symposium is for you, you may witness for yourself the fruits of past Symposiums. Allow me introduce you to one of my singers, Karen (age 19), who has been attending the Symposium with me every year since she was 15. Here she was, just yesterday morning, training the next generation of singers. Incidentally, music is a family effort – Karen and four of her siblings all sing in our Schola! This is just one small example of the abundant fruits of attending the FSSP Sacred Music Symposium.

If you are one of those people who is tentatively stepping up into the role of leading a choir, be strong and carry on. You can absolutely do this, and we want to help you! Learn all about what to expect at the Symposium by visiting ccwatershed.org/symposium.

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

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: February 26, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Andrea Leal

Andrea Leal is a wife and homeschooling mother of 6 children. She serves as choir director for the Traditional Latin Mass in Las Vegas.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “What Martin Luther Said…”
    My pastor asked me to write little columns for the bulletin each week. The article for 20 July 2025 has been posted, and it’s called: “What Luther Said…” Martin Luther (an ex-priest and apostate) was an infamous heretic whose ignorance of JESUS CHRIST was only exceeded by his filthy and disgusting vulgarity.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I prepared for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (13 July 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. As always, the Responsorial Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and propers for this Sunday are also provided at the the feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —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

Luys de Villafranca, master of the altar boys—who are to be distinguished from the choirboys (“seises”) because they study only plainchant whereas the choirboys live with the chapelmaster and study polyphony and counterpoint as well—is rewarded on October 17 with a salary increase of 6,000 maravedís and an extra 12 bushels of wheat.

— Sevilla Cathedral: Chapter Resolution (7 September 1565)

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Catholic Texts Transcend”
  • PDF Download • “Jeff’s Mom Joins Our Fundraiser”
  • “Musicam Sacram” (5 March 1967) • Does It Apply?
  • “What Martin Luther Said…”
  • “Music List” • 15th in Ordinary Time (Year C)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up