Views from the Choir Loft

Beauty

Fr. David Friel · June 15, 2014

Gregory the Great Academy

An Interview with Matt Williams

Fr. David Friel · March 30, 2014

Saints Who Were Artists

A Catalog

Fr. David Friel · March 23, 2014

Secular Architecture

Reneging on the Promise of Public Art

Fr. David Friel · March 16, 2014

Being Amazed

The Fullness of Beauty

Fr. David Friel · February 23, 2014

St. Therese on Beauty

The Divine Artist of souls is pleased when we do not stop at the exterior.

Fr. David Friel · February 16, 2014

Movie Review: The Monuments Men

Not Great Art, Itself, But Nevertheless Thought-Provoking

Fr. David Friel · January 24, 2014

The Art of the Beautiful Lecture Series

Professor Anthony Esolen Presents: “Love & Artistic Genesis”

Fr. David Friel · January 12, 2014

The International Institute for Culture

“For the Love of Music” Series

Fr. David Friel · December 29, 2013

Singing as a Work of Mercy

The Doylestown Comfort Choir

Fr. David Friel · December 1, 2013

Chant Behind Bars

Might Chant Scholas Flourish in Prisons?

Fr. David Friel · November 17, 2013

Must Art Be Permanent?

A Thought from Evelyn Waugh

Fr. David Friel · October 27, 2013

Gerard Manley Hopkins & Beauty

Pondering Papal Poetic Preferences

Introit • Candlemas (2 February)

“Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!

—Jeff Ostrowski

Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”

Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3).

—Jeff Ostrowski

Tempo?? • 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥, 𝘞𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦

Once, after Mass, my pastor said he really loved the hymn we did. I said: “Father, that's Holy God, We Praise Thy Name—you never heard it before?” He replied: “But the way you did it was terrific. For once, it didn't sound like a funeral dirge!” Last Sunday, our volunteer choir sang that hymn. I think the tempo was just about right … but what do you think?

—Jeff Ostrowski

Impelled by the weightiest of reasons, we are fully determined to restore Latin to its position of honor, and to do all We can to promote its study and use. The employment of Latin has recently been contested in many quarters, and many are asking what the mind of the Apostolic See is in this matter. We have therefore decided to issue the timely directives contained in this document, so as to ensure that the ancient and uninterrupted use of Latin be maintained and, where necessary, restored.”

— Pope John XXIII (22 February 1962)