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Views from the Choir Loft

Place Me Among the Sheep, Not the Goats

Keven Smith · November 2, 2020

F THIS WERE a typical year, I’d be preparing for a sung Mass tonight for the Commemoration of All Souls. My parish choir loves singing the traditional Requiem Mass.

When I say we love it, I don’t mean that we merely don’t mind it or that we enjoy it about as much as the typical Sunday Mass. I mean that we love it above nearly any other Mass. I’ve asked many choir members over the years, “Would you rather sing a Requiem Mass or a Nuptial Mass?” Every last singer has chosen the Requiem.

There are several reasons for this affection. The Requiem chants are plentiful, colorful, and poignant, encompassing every mode except for 3 and 5. The liturgical texts deal with eschatology, which gives perspective to everything we believe and do as Catholics. Also, it’s always easy to see how much grieving families appreciate even the modest efforts of the handful of singers who are typically available to sing a midweek Requiem.

I love any Mass that includes a Sequence because the 1962 missal contains only five of them. The Dies Irae is one—and perhaps the best.

It’s Not Just About Wrath

Dies Irae conjures up images of righteous anger, fire, deafening noise, and judgment. Here in 2020, as the worst machinations of the world’s elite become apparent, it’s tempting to hope that the Day of Wrath will come soon. We trust that the return of Our Savior will mean swift judgment for those who want to prohibit public worship, promote deviant behaviors, and safeguard the “right” to dismember babies in the womb.

But we know that the return of Our Savior will also mean swift judgment for ourselves—we who are weak, lazy, selfish, and lukewarm.

Am I hoping for the Day of Wrath to come quickly? Would I dare? I prefer to focus on the inner stanzas of Dies Irae. In the ninth through fifteenth stanzas, beginning with “Recordare, Jesu pie,” we address Our Lord directly.

Here is where supplication reigns—where we focus on the things we can control.

Here is where we admit that, although nothing can slip His mind, our ingratitude has made us deserve to be forgotten.

Here is where we picture Our Lord faint and weary from seeking us—and yet we continue to wander off and hide.

Here is where we beg for forgiveness while there’s still time. Here is where our faces grow red with shame.

Here is where we dare suggest that if there was hope for Mary Magdalen and Dismas, perhaps there is hope for us. Here is where we admit that our prayers and sighs are worthless but beg nevertheless for a place among the sheep—not the goats.

Everything Is Better with Jerry Hadley

Even if my parish had the budget, I would have no interest in conducting an orchestral Requiem during an actual liturgy. I would much prefer to chant the traditional Requiem Mass. But I do enjoy listening to the Mozart Requiem and will always be grateful that Mozart set the middle stanzas of Dies Irae with such sensitivity. Here’s a performance of his Recordare that includes the late, great American tenor Jerry Hadley (oh, and Leonard Bernstein). May it inspire you to more fervent prayer this All Souls Day.

 

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

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: dies irae, Extraordinary Form 1962 Missal, Gregorian Chant, Requiem Last Updated: November 8, 2020

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About Keven Smith

Keven Smith, music director at St. Stephen the First Martyr, lives in Sacramento with his wife and five musical children.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    Schola Director Posts ‘Live’ Recording
    As I explained in my article posted earlier today, Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland is actually a Catholic tune (in spite of what some have claimed). The volunteer choir I direct sang that beautiful ADVENT melody last Sunday, and I invite you to listen to the live recording. It will get better the more we sing it.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Message from the Vice-President!
    The Vice-President of the Church Music Association of America, Dr. Horst Buchholz (who also serves as Director of Sacred Music for the Archdiocese of Detroit) sent us an email yesterday regarding the harmonizations (PDF) I composed for the Gregorian Chant psalm tones. Dr. Buchholz says: “Those settings are absolutely exquisite, as I'm used to when it comes from you. Bravo! Well done! Now, as a sequel, if you could write something for accompanying psalms in English that would be awesome.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Requesting Our Advent Eucharistic Hymn
    A young lady named Agnes wrote to us: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, do you have the PDF score for Ave Corpus Domini set to the ADVENT melody? Last year, we sang the hymn tune “Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland” quite a bit using your contrafactum technique. My choir appreciates the Latin hymns and practice videos, especially in the ADVENT and CHRISTMAS seasons. Your recent article on Gregorian Psalm Tones is a great help to my organist brother, and reminds us of attending VESPERS years ago when we lived in California. Thank you so much for all the effort put into providing these wonderful resources!”   Agnes, if you are listening! Yes, the PDF file you desire can be downloaded for free at the Brébeuf Portal via this URL link. Thanks for writing to us!
    —Jeff Ostrowski

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