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Views from the Choir Loft

Richard J. Clark • Article Archive

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. He is also Chapel Organist (Saint Mary’s Chapel) at Boston College. His compositions have been performed worldwide.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Richard J. Clark · August 5, 2016

“Ad Orientem” and Granovetter’s Threshold Models of Collective Behavior

The people deserve to know the truth. It is time for ignorance to end so that the faithful may develop informed opinions.

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Richard J. Clark · July 15, 2016

Letter from USCCB Committee on Divine Worship on “Ad Orientem”

Most Rev’d Serratelli says the current rubrics “reflect the real possibility that the celebrant might be facing away from the assembly.”

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Richard J. Clark · July 15, 2016

The Illusion of Privacy • Social Media Etiquette for Liturgical Musicians

A very wise and compassionate Jesuit priest kindly exhorted me to avoid writing such missives. I quickly heeded his advice. So should you. Here’s why:

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Richard J. Clark · July 8, 2016

Those Pesky Letters of Complaint

As surely as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, someone will be unhappy. Displeasure does not discriminate.

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Richard J. Clark · July 1, 2016

The Frontier of Liturgical Composition

The frontier of composition is clearly producing new settings of the propers in the vernacular, useful for a typical parish.

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Richard J. Clark · June 24, 2016

New Organ Work • Madonna & Child

It took me—the composer—to realize this is really a work about mother and child.

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Richard J. Clark · June 10, 2016

Two Concerts • Two Milestones • 101-rank E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings Organ, Opus 801

2016 marks two milestones: the 140th Anniversary of the Dedication of the E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings, Opus 801 and the thirtieth anniversary of Leo Abbott’s tenure as Cathedral Music Director in Boston

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Richard J. Clark · June 3, 2016

“Insidious Form” of Clericalism? A Jesuit Speaks Out

“The presider claims a form of privilege to change things that do not belong to him…”

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Richard J. Clark · May 27, 2016

A Model of Sacred Music at Priest’s First Mass

What music does a newly ordained priest, who currently plays the drums in a jazz band, choose for his first Mass? A priest who also has a degree from the Hartt School of Music in Music Production and Technology? The answer will surprise you.

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Richard J. Clark · May 20, 2016

Composing Saves My Life

By shear will I chip away at the wretched dumpster fire of incongruence on the page. Then a purpose languidly surfaces with each revised note: Composing is a form of prayer.

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Richard J. Clark · May 6, 2016

Working With People With Whom One Disagrees

One’s ability to work effectively with someone else does not actually rely very much on how much one agrees with the other. Why? It comes down to three things.

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Richard J. Clark · April 29, 2016

Children’s Choir in a Typical Suburban Parish? Endless Possibilities!

Children who sing today will be the foundation of our Church in the future.

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Richard J. Clark · April 22, 2016

Musician • Center of Attention or Servant?

Applause from a congregation for musicians, or musicians that impede congregational singing for the sake of personal artistry, are but symptoms. The church musician has been misidentified as a separate entity—a showpiece—and not properly identified as a servant of the liturgy, a servant of God, a servant of the people.

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Richard J. Clark · April 8, 2016

I Claim You for Christ

“One of the most emotional experiences of my life was during the baptism of my second child. The words hit me like a ton of bricks…time froze, and I was bowled over in my heart…”

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Richard J. Clark · April 1, 2016

O Happy Fault • Nine things that are pure privilege

Such a reference to original sin—a positive reference—seems quite strange to us.

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    PDF Download • “Cordero de Dios”
    Feel free to download this setting of the “Cordero de Dios” (AGNUS DEI) in Spanish. The congregation gets an interesting melody within reach, the organist gets a straightforward accompaniment, and the person assembling the ORDER OF WORSHIP gets a ‘ready-to-paste’ plainsong version. Try this setting of the “Santo, Santo, Santo” (SANCTUS) if you desire one that’s easy to sing and includes a simple organ accompaniment. For the record, I have harmonized the Spanish “GLORIA” found in the MISAL ROMANO, Tercera Edición. Click here to download that.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Be Joyful Mary” • Organ Interlude

    Peter Piel (1835–1904), was a Roman Catholic composer named “Royal Music Director” under Wilhelm I, King of Prussia.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    PDF Download • “Our Father” (1 page)
    Dutch organist, teacher, and conductor HERMAN STRATEGIER (d. 1988) studied under Hendrik Andriessen. He composed this unison setting with organ accompaniment for the LORD’S PRAYER (“Our Father”) which a children’s choir would find both within reach and worthy of the effort. The whole thing fits neatly on a single page. Strategier eventually became organist of Saint Catherine’s Cathedral in Utrecht. He also taught at the “Dutch Institute for Catholic Church Music” (Nederlands Instituut voor Katholieke Kerkmuziek).
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Preface of Saint Joseph (added by the pope)

    You can see the “Præfatio de Sancto Joseph” inserted directly into the priest’s missal.

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    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Predictable Rhymes?” • A Follow Up
    We received considerable correspondence regarding my article, Two Ways to Defile a Hymn. More specifically, what really raised certain people’s hackles was its follow-up article dealing with the keyboard accompaniment for the CHRIST THE KING HYMNAL. But to quote Eliza Doolittle: “Have I said anything I oughtn’t?” Please examine this PDF file and see whether you agree. Were the editors of the BRÉBEUF HYMNAL incorrect to insist upon sophisticated and clever rhymes, rather than mind-numbingly predictable rhymes?
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    ‘Ould’ But Not Good
    Dom Samuel Gregory Ould (note the spelling) was a Benedictine monk at FORT AUGUSTUS ABBEY in Scotland. As musician, organist, and composer, Dom Ould was highly regarded. Moreover, he was considered an authority on Gregorian Chant. But not everything found in an old book—or, in this case, an “Ould” book—is necessarily praiseworthy. Consider this page from Dom Ould’s hymnal. Do you see the rhymes? They offend severely by ABR (“Abuse By Reuse”) and are utterly predictable. In my recent article—Two Ways to Defile a Hymn—I addressed this topic.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“To suggest, even loosely, that Catholics walk a more or less similar path to God as other religions drains martyrdom of its meaning. Why give up your life for Christ when other paths may get us to the same God? Such a sacrifice would be senseless.”

— Archbishop Charles J. Chaput

Recent Posts

  • PDF Download • “Antiphons Which Are Sung Whilst the Blessed Sacrament Is Exposed”
  • PDF Download • Organ Harmonization for a Splendid Version of “O Salutaris Hostia”
  • Musical Lineup • “Mass of Thanksgiving for a Newly-Ordained Priest”
  • PDF Download • “Cordero de Dios”
  • PDF Download • “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” — Simple Organ Interludes (5 pages)

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