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“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

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Views from the Choir Loft

Three (3) Cheerful Items • “Sacred Music Revolution”

Jeff Ostrowski · April 1, 2023

HE WONDERFUL spiritual classic, The Imitation of Christ, says (bk.1, ch.9): “It is a very great thing to be under obedience, to live under a superior and not to be at our own disposal; for it is much safer to be subject than it is to command. […] Trust not too much to thine own thoughts: but be willing also to hear the sentiments of others. Although thine opinion be good, yet if for God’s sake thou leavest it—to follow that of another—it will be more profitable to thee.” Wise words, to be sure! At the same time, we remember that OUR BLESSED SAVIOR HIMSELF was condemned by Annas and Caiaphas, who were (basically) the highest church leaders at that time.

Focus on the Good • Here at Corpus Christi Watershed, we don’t subscribe to Pollyannaism. With sadness, we see high-ranking clerics who allow (or even embrace) scandalous behavior, give evil commands, and even publicly blaspheme. And yet we believe it’s better to emphasize the positive. And there is so much good in the world! A few days ago, I watched a video showing policemen rushing into an elementary school to save innocent children (just 9 years old) being slaughtered by an active shooter. These men were brave and unselfish. There is good in the world.

Three Examples:

Each day, I speak to musicians and priests all over the world. Believe it or not, tons of “pockets” do exist out there, in which faithful Catholics are promoting authentic sacred music. Today, I would like to share three cheerful examples.

Dr. Calabrese • I was sent an iPhone clip of Dr. Alfred Calabrese conducting a choral piece by composer Daniel Knaggs. I know something about how difficult it is for a microphone to accurately reproduce the rich sound of a choir. It’s almost impossible, because sound waves produced by an ensemble of voices is something physical, and it’s extremely complex. Robert Shaw was correct to call Dr. Calabrese “one of the most talented conductors.” The sound he gets from his singers is amazing. We are so blessed that Dr. Calabrese will be coming to Los Angeles this summer to conduct the sublime Salve Regina by Luca Marenzio at Sacred Music Symposium 2023.

Below is a small excerpt. I don’t know whether the full concert will be released online:

Corrinne May • Not long ago, Corrinne May was featured in Harper’s Bazaar, a famous American magazine. She was described by the magazine as “one of Singapore’s multi-platinum singer-songwriters.” Recently, Corrinne has been doing excellent work with choirs in Singapore. Her most recent project is adapting CANTUS GREGORIANUS from Latin into English. Here is a clip of her conducting an “Agnus Dei” adaptation I did based on the Miserére of Father Gregorio Allegri (d. 1652).

This clip was filmed recently in Singapore:

M To download the PDF score free of charge, go to #7554.

Volunteer Singers in Los Angeles • Working with the volunteer singers at my church is such a bright spot in my life. These are not professional musicians; they all come from the parish. Seeing these Catholics so dedicated to sacred music is truly inspirational. They make huge sacrifices to learn this music. Here’s a recording, taken from our rehearsal last night.

M To access this hymn’s media in the Brébeuf Portal, click here.

Strange But True • That hymn—which is very famous—was actually written by a Protestant named Charles Wesley. His poetry was praised by Father Leslie Rumble, of RADIO REPLIES. For years, I have been saying that if you look hard enough through the Brébeuf Hymnal, you’ll find a few hymns that are not Catholic. Another example would be “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” which was included by the Brébeuf editorial team even though it was written by a Protestant.

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

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: MISERERE Gregorio Allegri, Robert Shaw Choral Conductor Last Updated: April 1, 2023

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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 Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For the Season of Pentecost”
    During the season of Pentecost, you might consider using this 2-page Piece “for the season of Pentecost.” Rehearsal videos are available at #40691, but the lyrics are different. Therefore, make sure your choir members understand that one can rehearse songs that have different lyrics (“CONTRAFACT”).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“There’s a world of difference between a thoughtful, wise Catholic and a bitter contrarian. In spite of what is claimed on certain blogs, being addicted to cable news and twitter does not make one an intellectual.”

— Jeff Ostrowski

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