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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

What A Real Catholic Conductor Looks Like

Jeff Ostrowski · June 10, 2021

O SINGER WHO HAS ever worked with Dr. Alfred Calabrese will ever forget the experience. When he walks into the room, he has “the presence” that my professor of choral methods (Dr. James Daugherty) used to speak about. Mæstro Simon Carrington, who directed our choral program when I first entered the Conservatory, also had “the presence.” What exactly does “the presence” mean? It basically means a particular conductor who enters the room and—when he does—everyone stands up straight and gets ready to work. Everyone wants to do well for a conductor with “the presence.”

I don’t know how you get “the presence.” Maybe they give it to you when you get a doctorate in conducting? Dr. Calabrese earned his doctorate from Indiana University (Bloomington), which has an esteemed music school. For example, one of the most famous musicologists of all time, Willi Apel, taught there. I believe Dr. Horst Buchholz also got a doctorate at Indiana University, and I’d be curious to know whether they knew each other at that time. Sometimes when Dr. Calabrese conducts, he wears a little “pink hood” over his shoulders. I believe that signifies he received a doctorate in the Fine Arts. I have seen Dr. Lucas Tappan also wear that little hood over his shoulder.

On facebook, I recently saw an excerpt of Dr. Calabrese conducting SOLEMN VESPERS at his church, and wanted to share it. If I had to guess, it sounds like Tallis—but don’t quote me on that:

You can watch the full video.

Even on a low-quality recording, the choral sound evoked by Dr. Calabrese sounds, in my humble opinion, quite beautiful; even glorious! 1

IN THE PAST, we have been blessed to have Dr. Calabrese as a guest conductor here in Los Angeles:

63204-Dr-Alfred-Calabrese-Conductor-2019
63204-Dr-Alfred-Calabrese-Conductor-2017
63204-Dr-Alfred-Calabrese-Conductor-2016

We were so sad when the Sacred Music Symposium was canceled (but not permanently) due to Covid-19.

I have been trying to think of way to get Dr. Calabrese to come back to Los Angeles to work with my singers. I think I could raise enough money to provide a proper stipend for him, but the main obstacle has to do with my singers’s schedules—most of them have jobs! I would want them to spend the whole week learning from Dr. Calabrese, but I just don’t know whether their work schedules would allow such a thing. I already push my singers pretty hard, and I don’t know what they would do if I said: “By the way, I also need you to take a full week off work for extra training.”

FUN FACT: The church where Dr. Calabrese conducts? My wife actually used to go there when she lived in Dallas. She saw the video, and she instantly recognized it!


NOTES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

1   What’s even more amazing is, they are singing through face masks, just like Andrew Leung’s singers. I suspect they would not be allowed to sing, unless they are wearing face masks. For myself, I could not sing while wearing a face mask—I already have enough problems breathing! Let’s hope this face mask stuff ends soon…and never comes back! But we musicians don’t make the rules.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Alfred Calabrese Conductor Last Updated: June 10, 2021

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About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Michigan. —(Read full biography).

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President’s Corner

    Liturgical Round (“Canon”) in C-Major
    Those who direct children’s choirs are always on the lookout for repertoire that’s dignified, inspired, and pleasing—yet still within reach of young choristers. Such directors will want to investigate this haunting liturgical round (PDF download) which has been married to the KYRIE from Mass VI (EDITIO VATICANA). I have provided an accompaniment, but it’s only for use during rehearsal; i.e. when teaching this round to your choristers. I also provided an organ accompaniment for the KYRIE—which some know by its trope (Kyrie Rex Genitor)—so that your congregation can take part when this round is used as a choral extension during Mass.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    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

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

“We decided to entrust this work to learned men of our selection. They very carefully collated all their work with the ancient codices in Our Vatican Library and with reliable, preserved or emended codices from elsewhere. Besides this, these men consulted the works of ancient and approved authors concerning the same sacred rites; and thus they have restored the Missal itself to the original form and rite of the holy Fathers.”

— ‘Pope St. Pius V (Quo Primum, 1570)’

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