This review of the Winter Chant Intensive has come in from Father Moses of Jesus Pillari, a participant in the class who compares his and others’ journeys to those of the three wise men.
Scott Turkington’s beginners session was excellent. Having done my undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame and spent four years of my religious life in monasteries in France, I’ve been blessed with some great professors. But the winter chant intensive taught me more “per minute” than perhaps any other course or seminar I’ve had!
We were a very diverse class: a professional jazz singer, two music majors still in college, several men who’d never sung anything before but just wanted to learn, a young woman drafted by her pastor to become the director of music, but who couldn’t yet read music, a Jesuit priest, a seminarian from Canada, experienced chanters, and everything in between. Yet somehow Scott kept all of us interested and learning as much as we could handle for 5 packed days.
As a young priest I came eager to learn more for myself, my community, and all those who come to our Texas mission. I have an average voice, a little experience singing Gregorian Chant, and no formal musical training except for some chant instruction over the years, reading some books, and good-old “on the job training.” There’s a lot I could say about the week and what was helpful, but I’ll simply mention two points:
1. I learned how to make chant more accessible to a congregation, or other beginning chanters. Over and over again I was impressed by how much chant is “made for the common man.” And Scott gave some great, simple, practical ideas, such as simply having people learn some initial chants by heart, or ways of dividing men’s and women’s voices to make it easier for each to find the right pitch, etc.
2. On the other end of the spectrum I feel as if I learned a lot more about what a choir needs to do in order to sing chant beautifully. While I’m certainly not there yet myself, I at least know what to work on, and realize that it’s doable, and doable right now if I can only find the time… I’ve begun doing some “solfege” every morning and have begun—at my superior’s request—by learning the solemn Salve Regina tone. It’s a beautiful piece to sing!
Throughout the week I was struck by the instructors’ humility, availability, patience, expertise, and experience. A rare combination. As we concluded Friday with a solemn Mass in the octave of the Epiphany, I couldn’t help comparing our own journey to that of the three wise men… Among all the peoples of the earth they were the only ones who actively followed the star, perhaps spending great lengths of time traveling, and at the cost of great sacrifices, without knowing for sure what they’d find, perhaps even without knowing if their journey would be successful or if they’d find anything… So many of those at the winter chant intensive are trodding a rather lonely path in their parish and have the pains and frustration of a long journey without yet seeing a lot of results. I can’t help but wonder if one day they won’t receive a wonderful gift as the Lord rewards their long journey with a new springtime of chant in the Church. That’s certainly my prayer….
Father Moses of Jesus Pillari can be reached at the Mission of Divine Mercy in New Braunfels, Texas.
What a fine young priest. I wish him all the best in his ministry.