Winter Chant Intensive 2011: Day 2 – Early Neumes and Po’ boys

After day two of the CMAA Winter Chant Intensive I have made the realization that the event is aptly named! A day at the intensive begins at 9:00AM and concludes at 6:00PM with a break in the afternoon for Mass and lunch. Now, I’ve studied chant with the Benedictines (ora et labora), and even they don’t spend this much time in the classroom each day! But I have concluded that the attendees have a real and authentic desire for knowledge and for improving their understanding of and skills in the singing of Gregorian chant. It is undoubtedly a love of Christ, of his Church, of the liturgy, and of the normative music of the Roman Rite that impels all of those who participate in an event like this.

Today it seemed as though everyone has settled in nicely and a real unity of purpose was at work. The advanced session and the beginner session are taking place on the 1st and 2nd floor of the same building, respectively, and the advanced session (the section I’m participating in) which has thus far involved much more lecture, discussion and lecture than singing, has thoroughly “enjoyed”… the lovely singing of scales, modes, Kyries and office hymns from above, with the occasional 15 minute serenade of a bell choral in the half-hour preceding noon Mass. It truly makes one concentrate very closely to the subject matter!

In the advanced session today I was very pleased that we continued to explore the early neumes found in the Graduale Triplex, and also that we surveyed briefly the continuation of the manuscript tradition. Much time was spent discussing and singing the Mass propers for the Feast of the Epiphany, which we will sing in liturgy at the end of the week.

Among the most fascinating things about the advanced group, I have found that 1. all singers are quite fluent in chant and have no problem sight-reading through virtually any chant in the gradual, and that there is a real desire to go beyond the rudiments of just singing the right pitches, and 2. the nature of the discussion often swirls in wonderful directions that range from history, theory and interpretation, and seamlessly into practical matters and frank discussions about the realities of our current liturgical culture context. There are scholars in the group (no less than Dr. Edward Shaefer!), priests, seminarians, music directors, choristers, and the like. And all bring a very insightful perspective to our discussion of these issues. Every perspective contributes something that is needed in the conversation. A very holistic experience seems to happening in this group, and it is very exciting to be a part of it.

I look forward to going deeper into the depths with Dr. Mahrt this week. I think that the group is also ready for this. The chant intensive advanced session seems to be an ideal venue to climb up to the mountain top and gaze around for a while. Especially since so much of our time is spent in the valley of parish life, doing the work that is necessary to impact real change in our liturgical music culture.

Many of the attendees are also getting out into the city and viewing its beauty and charm, and, – per the recommendation of the hosting pastor – getting a taste of the city as well! A few of us made our way over to the Notre Dame Seminary Chapel (pictured above) for a service of Eucharistic adoration and benediction with some of the local college-aged residents, and walked across the street afterward for a taste of authentic Cajun cuisine! With the recommendation of my good friend and New Orleans native Todd I went for the oyster and bacon po’ boy and a local amber ale. And my other new friends went for a red-fish with crawdad (or something like that!).

All-in-all it has made for a great day. I look forward to all that is in store for the next.