Views from the Choir Loft

Father Friel • Article Archive

Ordained in 2011, Father Friel served for five years as Parochial Vicar at St. Anselm Parish in Northeast Philly. He is currently a doctoral candidate in liturgical theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.—Read full biography.

Fr. David Friel · September 24, 2020

Lecture: What Happens to Us in Liturgy?

The first in a series of virtual lectures being offered by the Society for Catholic Liturgy

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Fr. David Friel · September 16, 2020

Solesmes Publishes “Antiphonale Romanum I” for Lauds

This 2020 chant edition makes possible the chanting of Lauds according to the Liturgy of the Hours.

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Fr. David Friel · August 30, 2020

Bishop Sheen on Sanctifying the Moment

Wise words from Sheen’s book, “Lift Up Your Heart”

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Fr. David Friel · August 17, 2020

Certificate in Sacred Music

Offered by the Saint Gregory Institute of Sacred Music in Pittsburgh, PA

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Fr. David Friel · August 9, 2020

Missale Meum: Get EF Mass Texts on Your Devices

A new resource for accessing Mass texts on your phone, tablet, or computer

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Fr. David Friel · July 19, 2020

The Gifts of Abel the Just

Offering an Acceptable Sacrifice

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Fr. David Friel · July 8, 2020

Solemn Novena for Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

This year’s preacher will be Fr. Joseph Lee, F.S.S.P.

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Fr. David Friel · June 17, 2020

Devotional Catholicism and the Domestic Church

Part 3 of a webinar series hosted by the Society for Catholic Liturgy

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Fr. David Friel · June 14, 2020

Liturgical Handwashing

Some recommendations from the CDC fit quite naturally with Catholic liturgical sensibilities.

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Fr. David Friel · June 11, 2020

Virtual Sacred Music Colloquium 2020

The CMAA will offer a virtual version of its annual, week-long workshop.

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Fr. David Friel · June 9, 2020

Why We Sing the Liturgy

Part 2 of a webinar series hosted by the Society for Catholic Liturgy

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Fr. David Friel · June 7, 2020

A Verse for Trinity Sunday

Herbert’s poem praises the Trinity both by its text and through its form.

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Fr. David Friel · June 2, 2020

Liturgical Challenges Presented by COVID-19 • A Triptych via Zoom

A webinar series exploring the liturgical, theological, and pastoral implications of this pandemic.

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Fr. David Friel · May 26, 2020

Returning to the Sacraments • Stories from Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati

Prevented from receiving Holy Communion for a time, Frassati became “consumed with Eucharistic Fire.”

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Fr. David Friel · May 17, 2020

Returning to the Sacraments • “Breathe Easter Now” (Hopkins)

Words of Hope from Gerard Manley Hopkins

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Fr. David Friel · May 3, 2020

Throwing Away Our Birthright of Beauty

Thoughts from St. Athanasius the Great

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Fr. David Friel · April 19, 2020

The Offertory Antiphons of the Easter Octave

United by the theme of sacred “commercium”

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Fr. David Friel · April 5, 2020

Craving the Body of Christ

Insights from Joseph of Arimathea

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Fr. David Friel · April 2, 2020

Repeating Repertoire? • Father Friel

The merits of repetition and variation.

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Fr. David Friel · March 22, 2020

“Separated from the Sacraments” • Stories from Walter Ciszek, SJ

A missionary in Soviet Russia, Fr. Ciszek learned the spirituality of surrender through tremendous suffering.

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22 September 2020 • “Tears of Joy”

A reader wrote to us: “Thank you for the sample verses of Hymn #869 (Solemn Hymn to the Son of God). I found this music posted to YouTube this morning, and I’ve lost count at of the number of times I’ve replayed it and—no exaggeration!—it makes me tear up each time. This lovely hymn makes me feel closer to Jesus in a way I have not experienced before. It also makes me want to proceed with my daily prayers right then and there, rather than run off to the next errand or household task. I could play your traditional hymns and liturgical music all day long!” —(Ann from the Boston area)

—Jeff Ostrowski

Myth Re: Johann Sebastian Bach

Some musicologists try to make a “splash” by saying that Bach was totally forgotten when he died—remembered only as an organ virtuoso—and that his sons were more famous than he was. Such an idea is indefensible. It is true that musical styles changed in 1750AD—but this is normal. Musical styles change constantly; e.g. much of the repertoire of Hofmann and Rachmaninov was considered “garbage” toward the end of their lives. But those who carefully study the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Christian Gottlob Neefe, Franz Liszt, John Field, Hans von Bülow, Felix Mendelssohn, Frédéric Chopin, and countless others realize that Bach was revered. It’s true that his music was seldom played in public, but music by “dead composers” was generally speaking not played in public until approximately the middle of the 19th century.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Arthur Friedheim, Franz Liszt’s Secretary

Arthur Friedheim (d. 1932) has a very poor reputation as a pianist, and Liszt rejected him several times before finally accepting him as a pupil, yet the Liszt recordings he left are quite good—especially considering the transgressions by other Liszt pupils. Friedheim must have been an amazing musician; twice he was asked to become conductor of the New York Philharmonic (1898 + 1911) but he declined both times. Circa 1912, Friedheim was recording Chopin’s “Funeral March” but the record ran out, so he simply stopped in the middle of the piece. Things sure have changed! Pianists no longer stop in the middle of pieces, although Cortot would sometimes abridge pieces to make them fit on records (cf. Chopin’s Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise Brilliante).

—Jeff Ostrowski