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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

EWTN Broadcast • Sacred Music by MacMillan + Eight Emerging Composers

William J. Fritz · July 7, 2023

Eight Young Composers selected to participate in the CSMP Composer’s Institute along with organist Benjamin LaPrairie, Sir James MacMillan, conductor Dr. Timothy McDonnell, and executive director Peter Carter

HIS COMING SATURDAY, (8 July 2023) at 7:00PM Pacific time, EWTN will be broadcasting a concert of 8 sacred choral pieces just composed three months ago as part of a Composer’s Institute organized by the Catholic Sacred Music Project (co-sponsored by the Benedict XVI Institute).  I was one of eight composers selected to spend a week composing and having tutoring with Sir James MacMillan in Alexandria, Virginia. Each day we had ample time to compose, have lessons, chat with each other and for rehearsals.  Above all we had the opportunity to attend holy Mass daily, and we capped the end of each day with sung Compline.  At the conclusion of the week, we had two premiere concerts, one of which was at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in the Americas.

The texts were all hymns from the office of the feast of Corpus Christi.  I personally received the Pange Lingua (Corporis Mysterium).  With the other composers receiving one of the hymns of the various hours.  The concert includes three pieces composed by MacMillan, of which Do Not Be Afraid received its American premiere.  This piece was composed for the funeral mass of Cardinal Pell, a friend of Sir James MacMillan.  I hope you are able to tune in!

I want to write a lengthier reflection on the week in a subsequent post, but the week was a tangible and powerful reminder that sacred choral music is alive and well, and that serious composers today take much inspiration from the sacred and theological texts of the Faith.  Taken together with MacMillan being one of the most performed living classical composers who puts his faith front and center—I believe there is a building movement towards revitalizing and renewing a culture that connects the Beautiful with the Divine.

You do not need a subscription to view on EWTN, as you can find it here, at their website for streaming.  The individual works are also available already on the Benedict XVI Institute’s YouTube Channel here.

A complete lineup of the concert:

A New Song, Sir James MacMillan

A Fantasy on Pange Lingua (Vespers), William J Fritz

Te lucis ante terminum (Compline), Michael Garrepy

Rector potens, verax Deus (Sext), Kristian Schembri

Iam lucis orto sidere (Prime), Sam Schiebe

Ave Maris Stella, Sir James MacMillan

Nunc, Sancte, nobis, Spiritus (Terce), Aidan Vass

Rerum, Deus, tenax, vigor (None), Zachary Landress

Verbum supernum (Lauds), Wilhelmina Esary

Sacris solemniis (Matins), Samuel Rowe

Do Not Be Afraid, Sir James MacMillan

Note:

There will be an encore broadcast on Friday, 14 July 2023, at 12:30 PM Pacific time.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: July 8, 2023

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About William J. Fritz

William J. Fritz currently serves as music director at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Costa Mesa, CA where he resides with his wife and three boys.—(Read full biography).

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Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    “Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
    I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” A female choir director wrote: “I love your harmonizations, your musicality, and the wonderful interplay you have with dissonance and consonance in your music. So fun to listen to, and great for intellect, heart, and soul!” A young woman from California wrote: “Thank you for releasing your new Glory To God in honor of Saint Noel Chabanel. I'm enjoying reading through the various parts and listening to your recordings.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
    Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire to use it as an example proving volunteers can sing complicated polyphony.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
    Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on Trinity Sunday or the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. You can hear live recording from last Sunday by clicking here.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Those who teach Latin must know how to speak to the hearts of the young, know how to treasure the very rich heritage of the Latin tradition to educate them in the path of life, and accompany them along paths rich in hope and confidence.”

— Pope Francis (7 December 2017)

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