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Views from the Choir Loft

“From a Recent Convert” • Symposium Review

Corpus Christi Watershed · August 1, 2022

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FIRST HEARD about the Sacred Music Symposium in early 2021, at a time when many events were still suspended owing to Covid-19. After stumbling across a testimony from a participant on the Corpus Christi Watershed website, I was immediately intrigued. I made a promise to myself that as soon as Covid-19 relented enough to allow this event to take place, I would attend. In my heart, I knew how beautiful and awesome an experience it would be for me as a musician.

Spontaneous Tears: Even though I “knew” what I was in for, I was nevertheless overwhelmed by the ethereal and transcendent moments. (I was not prepared for the tears that spontaneously began streaming down my face during Vespers one evening.) As a recent convert to the Faith, the Symposium exposed the beauty of the Mass in a new light, and highlighted the importance of authentic church music.

My Father’s Death: The Symposium was a faith-deepening experience. My dad had passed away the previous week, and the Symposium brought me closer to God at a time when I needed it the most. It also united me with fellow Catholics through music and the sacred liturgy.

The Greatest Week: I would recommend this conference without hesitation. It was one of the greatest weeks of my life. I made friends and connections that will last a lifetime, and was moved to tears by the presence of the Holy Ghost among us in that beautiful church. I was inspired by the holy people surrounding me, both clergy and lay. I was blown away by the talent, brilliance, enthusiasm, and intellect of the presenters and directors. From them, I learned an immeasurable amount of information about chant and polyphony, as well as church history in relation to liturgical music.

What More Could One Ask? Truly, what more could one ask for out of a conference this side of heaven? Many thanks to Mr. Ostrowski, Mrs. Leal, the priests of Saint Vitus, and all the presenters and directors. It was truly the experience of a lifetime!

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Sacred Music Symposium 2022 Last Updated: August 1, 2022

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Quick Thoughts

    Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦
    Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Don’t You Agree About These?
    If you want to make Jeff Ostrowski really happy, send him an email with effusive praise about the individual voice recordings for hymn #296. [Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass] They came out dazzlingly sensational, don't you agree?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Choral Vowels? Yes? No?
    Here's a live recording of one of the choral “warm-up” exercises my choir enjoys. It was taken during our rehearsal on 27 January 2023. It’s good to make sure each chord is perfectly in tune and balanced before moving to the next one. That only happens when each singer has the correct vowel. If you like, you can freely download that vocal exercise.
    —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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