Getting More Mileage out of a Polyphonic Requiem
“Many choirs only have the opportunity to sing a choral Requiem Mass once a year, if that.” —Patrick Williams
“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)
Patrick Williams serves as organist and choirmaster at Mater Misericordiae Parish and Saint Edward the Confessor Catholic Church. These are churches of the diocese of Phoenix, served by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) with exclusive use of the pre-conciliar rites in Latin.—Read full biography (with photographs).
“Many choirs only have the opportunity to sing a choral Requiem Mass once a year, if that.” —Patrick Williams
“The equalist plainchant of the High Middle Ages is as far removed from the rhythmic chant of the Early Middle Ages as the isometric chorales are from their rhythmic predecessors.” —Patrick Williams
“The original chant handed down from the Fathers of the Church has strict rhythmic proportions and a steady beat.” —Patrick Williams
“In much wisdom there is much sorrow; whoever increases knowledge increases grief.” —Ecclesiastes 1:18
“It is important that these melodies should be performed in the manner that they were originally conceived as works of art.” —St. Pius X
Patrick Williams addresses points raised by Matthew Frederes and Jeff Ostrowski
“Does it make more sense to judge later manuscripts in light of the oldest sources, or to judge the oldest sources in light of later manuscripts?” —Patrick Williams
“We have a number of quotations from medieval writers in support of proportional rhythm…” —Patrick Williams
“Mr. Ostrowski apparently wants to lock this door, install a deadbolt, and throw away both keys!” —Patrick Williams
Saint Thomas More said: “The things, good Lord, that we pray for, give us the grace to labor for.”
Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Alabama…
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