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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

“Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” • New album from Richard Kelley & Richard J. Clark

Corpus Christi Watershed · October 13, 2022

Available on all digital formats including:

•  Apple iTunes  •  Amazon Music •  Spotify • Compact Disc

BOSTON – Defying category and convention, famed Boston trumpeter Richard Kelley and Boston Cathedral choirmaster, organist, and composer Richard J. Clark explore the depths of human frailty, struggle, and dignity in their second album “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.”

The album coincides with the print publication from WLP | GIA Publications of the title track “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made,” a four-movement meditation on Psalm 139. The album also includes one of the final compositions of iconic New England composer Daniel Pinkham: “Scenes.” Written for Richard Kelley and in the final months of his life, Pinkham explores the abyss, mourning, and transcendence.

Defying all convention the album concludes with a bonus track featuring Richard Kelley on vocals in Clark’s category bending setting of poet E. Ethelbert Miller’s “If My Blackness Turns to Fruit.” Miller’s poem was featured on NPR’s Morning Edition in 2019 (marking Walt Whitman’s bicentennial). While it has been compared to Abel Meeropol’s “Strange Fruit” made famous by Billie Holiday, “If My Blackness Turns to Fruit” offers a new challenge for America. Shortly after the NPR broadcast, Miller asked Clark to compose music for the poem. The result: a classical art song in its bones but a traditional jazz ballad in its flesh. Miller’s evocative, yet hope-filled message is passionately delivered in a new, distinctive genre.  

The recordings were digitally mastered by double-platinum-winning producer Paul Umbach.

• OFFICIAL TRAILER click here

• CD RELEASE CONCERT • SUNDAY, November 13 @2pm • Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston • Tix Eventbrite – click here

“The career of trumpeter Richard Kelley is not only a testament to the versatility of his instrument, but also to the ability of one individual to excel across the broadest possible range of music.” ~ Brian McCreath, WCRB, Director of Production.

“…Clark’s vivid sound colors and emotionally committed playing created a compelling, dramatic narrative.” ~ The Boston Musical Intelligencer

“The seasonal music (Clark) and his choir are making on this Sunday morning is something more than just nice. Stirring is one way to put it. Profound is another.” ~ The Boston Globe

Press Contact: Kara Clark | RJC Cecilia Records
Phone: 617-309-0343
Email: click here

PDF of this Press Release click here. 

Richard A. Kelley is Principal Cornet of the Brass Band of Battle Creek. He performs regularly with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Boston Philharmonic, and the Bach Beethoven Brahms Society. He currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Mr. Kelley’s work can be heard on a wide variety of recordings, from national commercials to the Oscar and Golden Globe-winning soundtrack to Disney’s Pocahontas and Stephen Paulus’ Grammy-nominated Concerto for Two Trumpets and Band. Covering many styles of music, he has collaborated with many from John Williams and Yo-Yo Ma to Steven Tyler, Ray Charles and James Taylor. A passionate believer in the power of music education, Mr. Kelley taught for Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program for inner-city youth, and he continues to pass along his knowledge and love of music to younger generations in the Boston area.

Richard J. Clark is highly regarded as a composer of sacred music in particular for the Roman Rite. His choral, instrumental, and orchestral works have been performed worldwide. A highly versatile musician, his eclectic appearances range from the Celebrity Series of Boston, the Boston Philharmonic, and the Sacred Music Symposium in Los Angeles to Jive Records (Sony BMG), Fenway Park, and the New York Songwriters Circle at the historic The Bitter End in Greenwich Village. He currently serves as Archdiocesan and Cathedral Director of Music at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston. He served as Director of Music at Saint Cecilia Church in Boston from 1992-2018 and as Organist since 1989. A New York native, he currently lives with his wife and four children just outside of Boston, Massachusetts.

Produced by Richard J. Clark and Richard A. Kelley
Tracks 1-10 • Recorded at Saint Cecilia Church, Boston, MA
Richard J. Clark plays the 1999 & 2001 IV/54 Smith & Gilbert Organ
Mastered by Paul Umbach @The Snug Studio, Las Vegas, NV
Tracks 7-10 Engineered by Evan Landry
Photography: Lyndie Laramore, George Martell
Track 11 • Richard Kelley, vocals, trumpet • Richard J. Clark, piano

Recorded at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, MA
COPYRIGHT © 2022 Richard J. Clark • R J C Cecilia Music • ASCAP • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: October 14, 2022

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Music List” • 22nd in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    Some have expressed interest in perusing the ORDER OF MUSIC I’ve prepared for 31 August 2025, which is the 22nd 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 spectacular feasts website alongside the official texts in Latin.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “The Worm That Dieth Not”
    My pastor asked me to write a column for our parish bulletin with reflections on the sacred liturgy and church music. In my most recent article, I discuss “The Worm That Dieth Not.” At this website, you can access it conveniently; simply scroll down to the one dated 31 August 2025.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    A Nice Hymn In Spanish
    In my humble opinion, this is a really beautiful hymn in Spanish. If I practice diligently, I’ll be able to pronounce all the words properly. If you’re someone who’s interested in obtaining a melody only version (suitable for your congregational ORDER OF WORSHIP) you can steal that from this.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Solemn “Salve Regina” (Chant)
    How many “S” words can you think of using alliteration? How about Schwann Solemn Salve Score? You can download the SOLEMN SALVE REGINA in Gregorian Chant. The notation follows the official rhythm (EDITIO VATICANA). Canon Jules Van Nuffel, choirmaster of the Cathedral of Saint Rumbold, composed this accompaniment for it (although some feel it isn’t his best work).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

Benedict XVI in particular felt it was wrong to prohibit the celebration of Mass in the ancient rite in parish churches, as it is always dangerous to corner a group of faithful so as to make them feel persecuted and to inspire in them a sense of having to safeguard their identity at all costs in the face of the “enemy.”

— Archbishop Georg Gänswein

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