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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

Virtual Sacred Music Colloquium 2021

Fr. David Friel · May 9, 2021

GAIN this year, the Church Music Association of America (CMAA) will be hosting its Sacred Music Colloquium virtually. A week-long conference for parish musicians, directors of music, and clergy, the Colloquium is the only event of its kind, connecting singers and instrumentalists from around the United States (and beyond), offering instruction in the treasury of Catholic sacred music, and facilitating the practical implementation of chant and polyphony in the service of the liturgy. This is the signature event in the CMAA’s calendar each year.

Although the virtual format of this year’s Colloquium will limit the opportunities for fellowship and camaraderie that are such an important part of the annual gathering, a fine lineup of presenters and topics remains in force. All the details of this year’s Colloquium are presented on the event homepage.

Following much the same arrangement as last year, Colloquium 2021 will be conducted via Zoom, with presentations and opportunities for prayer during the evening hours (from 4:30 PM to 10 PM EDT). The dates for the conference will be Monday through Friday, June 21 – 25, 2021.

Alongside many familiar faces, several new presenters are joining the faculty this year. Some of the schedule’s highlights include:

Chant Modes • Nicholas Lemme
Vocal Training of the Young Voice • Dr. Lucas Tappan
Vocal Pedagogy • Dr. MeeAe Cecilia Nam
Building up the Choral Sound • Dr. Horst Buchholz
Parish Organ Techniques • Bruce Ludwick
Advanced Organ Techniques • Christopher Berry

Three plenary speakers will give keynote addresses on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights:

June 21, 2021 — Dr. William P. Mahrt (President, CMAA Board of Directors)
June 22, 2021 — Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone (Archbishop of San Francisco)
June 24, 2021 — Rev. Joseph Koterski, SJ (Fordham University)

The breakout sessions will be divided into beginner and advanced tracks. There will also be a Spanish track, with presentations concentrated on Wednesday evening.

If you have never been able to participate in a CMAA Colloquium before, this may be the year to give it a try. The registration cost is very reasonable—only $30 per day or $80 for all five days. There will also be some parts of the program made freely available to anyone who completes the Colloquium basic registration, including daily spiritual reflections from the CMAA chaplain and daily Compline.

Full information regarding Sacred Music Colloquium 2021 is available here, and registration is available here.

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

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Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Church Music Association of America CMAA, Contemporary Sacred Music, Sacred Music Colloquium, William Mahrt Gregorian Chant Last Updated: May 9, 2021

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About Fr. David Friel

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and serves as Director of Liturgy at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. —(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    Latin Liturgy Association
    We note with pleasure that Mrs. Regina Morris, president of the Latin Liturgy Association, has featured—on page 4 of Volume CXXIX of their official newsletter—the three (3) terrific versions of the Stations of the Cross found in the Brébeuf Hymnal. One of the main authors for the blog of the Church Music Association of America said (6/10/2019) about this pew book: “It is such a fantastic hymnal that it deserves to be in the pews of every Catholic church.”
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Music List” • 28th in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Readers have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 12 October 2025, which is the 28th 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 dazzling feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Offertory” for this Sunday
    This coming Sunday, 12 October 2025, is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). Its OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (PDF) is gorgeous, and comes from the book of Esther, as did the ENTRANCE CHANT last Sunday. Depending on a variety of factors, various hand-missals (all with Imprimatur) translate this passage differently. For instance, “príncipis” can be rendered: King; Prince; Lion; or Fierce lord. None is “more correct” than another. It depends on which source text is chosen and what each translator wants to emphasize. All these pieces of plainsong are conveniently stored at the blue-ribbon feasts website.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    New Bulletin Article • “12 October 2025”
    My pastor requested that I write short articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The latest article (dated 12 October 2025) talks about an ‘irony’ or ‘paradox’ regarding the 1960s switch to a wider use (amplior locus) of vernacular in the liturgy.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “American Catholic Hymnal” (1991)
    The American Catholic Hymnal, with IMPRIMATUR granted (25 April 1991) by the Archdiocese of Chicago, is like a compendium of every horrible idea from the 1980s. Imagine being forced to stand all through Communion (even afterwards) when those self-same ‘enlightened’ liturgists moved the SEQUENCE before the Alleluia to make sure congregations wouldn’t have to stand during it. (Even worse, everything about the SEQUENCE—including its name—means it should follow the Alleluia.) And imagine endlessly repeating “Alleluia” during Holy Communion at every single Mass. It was all part of an effort to convince people that Holy Communion was historically a procession (which it wasn’t).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Canonic” • Ralph Vaughan Williams
    Fifty years ago, Dr. Theodore Marier made available this clever arrangement (PDF) of “Come down, O love divine” by P. R. Dietterich. The melody was composed in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. 1958) and named in honor of of his birthplace: DOWN AMPNEY. The arrangement isn’t a strict canon, but it does remind one of a canon since the pipe organ employs “points of imitation.” The melody and text are #709 in the Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

It is frightful even to think there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day.

— Pope Francis (13 January 2014)

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