Views from the Choir Loft

This Sunday! • Q&A “Developing a Youth Choir Program”

Dr. Lucas Tappan · September 20, 2023

WOULD HEARTILY RECOMMEND to any of our readers interested in beginning, sustaining, and growing choir programs for youth to join the Church Music Association of America’s next virtual Q&A, entitled Developing a Youth Choir Program, this Sunday, September 24th, at 8:00 PM EST, where I will be privileged to field your questions alongside two well known and widely respected church musicians, Mary Ann Carr Wilson and Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka. If you work with children, or desire to work with children, this Q&A is for you. We will answer your questions about your programs, so be sure not to miss this opportunity. Please read the following details from the CMAA.

Developing a Youth Choir Program
Your questions are valuable and add depth to the discussions. If you’re curious about any topic relating to youth singing, program development, repertoire, vocal production, or anything else. Remember, there are no dumb questions, we’re happy to address beginner, intermediate, and advanced level questions. Our panel of experts will address as many questions as possible during the session.

How to Register & Submit Your Questions:
Register for the Event: Become a Member of the CMAA. Learn more about that HERE. Enter the members’ portal, click on the event in the community calendar and follow the registration instructions to secure your spot.
Submit Your Questions: After registering, use this link to submit your questions, and our panelists will address them during the event. You are not required to submit a question to attend.

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

About Dr. Lucas Tappan

Dr. Lucas Tappan is a conductor and organist whose specialty is working with children. He lives in Kansas with his wife and four children.—(Read full biography).

Using “Ye” Vs. “You” Correctly

Using “Ye” vs. “You” is rather tricky, because it depends upon which era one is trying to recreate—if that makes any sense. In other words, the rules haven’t always been the same for these two. Nevertheless, Father Philip George Caraman (the legendary Jesuit scholar) gives us a masterclass using Saint Luke’s Gospel. Father Caraman was close friends with Monsignor Ronald Knox, Evelyn Waugh, and Sir Alec Guinness.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”

My pastor asked me to write brief articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The most recent article speaks about the recent announcement by Pope Leo XIV, which does have an impact on church musicians. Scheduled for publication on 2025 08 10th, it’s called: “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

All the chants for 3 August 2025—which is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)—have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (from the book of Wisdom) is stunning. That feast website has been called “the best kept secret of Church music.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

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

Antiphons Don’t Match?

A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).

—Corpus Christi Watershed