Views from the Choir Loft

Pope Francis

Pope Francis’ Address on Sacred Music: “Liturgy is the first ‘teacher’ of catechism.”

Richard J. Clark · October 4, 2019 ·

“Do not forget this: the liturgy is the first ‘teacher’ of catechism.” — Pope Francis

Leo XIII to St. Katharine Drexel: “What about you?”

Fr. David Friel · March 3, 2019 ·

Today marks the feast of Mother Katharine Drexel, whom the Holy Father challenged to become a missionary.

New Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

Fr. David Friel · March 4, 2018 ·

Invoking Mater Ecclesiae in a new annual feast

USCCB Assesses Impact of “Magnum Principium”

Fr. David Friel · December 31, 2017 ·

Seven Observations on Liturgical Translation and the Recent Motu Proprio

Gray Book for Baptism of Children Approved

Fr. David Friel · December 17, 2017 ·

How will the “confirmatio” and “regonitio” processes unfold in light of “Magnum principium”?

Liturgical Reflections of a Papal Master of Ceremonies

Fr. David Friel · June 12, 2017 ·

Essays from Msgr. Guido Marini

On the Spirit of Conservation

Fr. David Friel · August 28, 2016 ·

A Reflection on the National Parks, Sacred Architecture, and “Laudato Si”

“Actuosa Participatio” and the Reception of Holy Communion

Fr. David Friel · July 30, 2016 ·

Relevant Reflections from “Sacramentum Caritatis.”

Pope Francis to Cardinal Sarah: Investigate an Official Reform of the Reform

Fr. David Friel · July 6, 2016 ·

Highlights from Cardinal Sarah’s Lecture at Sacra Liturgia UK 2016

Pope Francis on Collaboration of the Lay Faithful

Fr. David Friel · December 20, 2015 ·

Remarks during the Ad Limina Visit of the German Bishops

Could Pope St. Pius X Sing?

“On 12 March 1908, the complete publication of the Roman Gradual was issued by the Vatican Press. On that very day, Dom Pothier solemnly presented the first copy to the Holy Father. A witness of the audience says that Pius X wished to be the first to see the new book; he opened it at random, at page 128 of the supplement pro aliquibus locis—it was the Introit of the new Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Pope sang it with perfect taste to the last note.” (Catholic Choirmaster, February 1915)

—Jeff Ostrowski

Julius Bas Accompaniment

A very prolific harmonizer of Gregorian chant in the early 20th century was Mr. Julius Bas. He often uses a very strange technique, wherein he employs rests to eliminate the Alto, Tenor, and Bass voices. Consider what he did with “Lumen ad revelationem” here:

* JPEG • Lumen ad revelationem

It seems quite lazy, and I’ve never seen anyone else use such a technique, although Dr. Peter Wagner often switched to parallel octaves when he ran out of ideas… (Yuck!)

—Jeff Ostrowski

Hitting wrong notes

Fr. Valentine Young, OFM, used to say: “The organist can play 1,000 correct notes and one wrong note—and the only thing people will care about is the wrong note.” Last Sunday I hit some wrong notes, and felt bad. Then I remembered a story about Rudolf Serkin and started to chuckle. Charles Rosen (or was it Leon Fleisher?) told the story of Serkin playing a Beethoven Sonata in front of a large audience. The theme is all in octaves; but Serkin hit some wrong notes, and played parallel 7ths instead. This so unnerved him that every time the theme returned, he played the entire thing in parallel 7ths! We must remember that even the greatest hit wrong notes. Alfred Cortot, Vladimir Horowitz, Wilhelm Backhaus, Edwin Fischer, Sviatoslav Richter, Egon Petri—they all hit wrong notes, which we can hear on recordings. (Josef Hofmann was an exception, but he was super-human so he doesn’t count!)

—Jeff Ostrowski