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Views from the Choir Loft

Fauré Requiem Mass • Saint Paul’s Choir School 

Richard J. Clark · November 30, 2021

USIC FROM the Catholic Church’s vast treasury has the power to strengthen, uplift, and inspire conversion. Many new Catholics cite the beauty and truth expressed by the Church’s sacred music as a catalyst for their conversion. For others, it fortifies a lifelong struggle in faith. For some, beautiful sacred music has inspired vocations. Fr. William Kelly, Pastor of Saint Paul’s Church in Harvard Square attributes his call to the priesthood to singing in the Saint Paul’s Choir School (known then as the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School) under the direction of the school’s founder Theodore Marier.

The famous Requiem by Gabriel Fauré, Opus 48, is one such piece that inspires faith and conversion of heart. Recently, the Saint Paul’s Choir of Men and Boys sang the Requiem during a Mass in the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo Vatican II Mass). A popular work often performed in concert, when sung within Mass, it offers boundless transcendence.

The livestream of the Mass begins at 1:01:40. It follows a lecture from Thomas Forrest Kelly, Harvard University, and Music Director, James Kennerley. You can download the Order of Mass here.

WHILE SINGING THIS SETTING in the Ordinary Form has its complications, i.e, the combined Introit and Kyrie and the Agnus Dei joined with the communion antiphon Lux Aeterna, many have done so in creative fashion as is true in this case. Some choose to split movements where liturgically necessary. Maestro James Kennerley chose to keep them intact, e.g., singing the Agnus Dei XVIII and then the Fauré setting during Communion. Adding profound context and delight was the singing of the Sequence Dies Irae in the Ordinary Form. Many in the congregation gladly joined in. Furthermore, Fr. Kelly’s brief homily spoke about his experience of singing Fauré’s Pie Jesu as a chorister while coping with the death of family members. Undoubtedly, such music profoundly transforms the soul.

Soli Deo gloria

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: December 1, 2021

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
7 June 2022 • FEEDBACK

From Chelan, Washington: “CCWatershed is a God-sent resource that I can’t function without! Such great work by the team to bring beauty back to our liturgy!” From Gainesville, Florida: “I am so appreciative of the work, of my brothers and sisters in music!” From Troutman, North Carolina: “Keep up the excellent work in service of the Liturgy!”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

To end an impropriety, noticed particularly at orchestral Vespers, when two or three Psalms are sung with full orchestra, and then the other Psalms and the Hymn are rapidly hurried through with organ accompaniment only […] we order that at Mass all portions of the text, including “Agnus Dei,” be sung with orchestral accompaniment. […] Moreover, the musicians are not allowed to put the instruments away and leave their places before the conclusion of the sacred function.

— Cardinal Patrizi (18 November 1856)

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