Author: Richard Chonak

This evening Deacon Daniel Galadza gave the first in a series of lectures on Eastern Catholic theology, and spoke about the ways in which the Byzantine liturgy includes commentary on itself, with sung elements that instruct the faithful about the meaning of the rite while it is happening.

A fine example of this is the “Cherubic Hymn”, sung as the priest begins the offertory procession called the “Great Entrance”.

We who mystically represent the Cherubim
and sing the thrice-holy Hymn
to the life-giving Trinity,
let us lay aside all earthly cares
that we may welcome the King of all,
invisibly escorted by angel hosts, alleluia.

Dr. Galadza, associated with St. Elias Ukrainian Catholic Church near Toronto, was a prime mover behind 2019’s “SingCon” practicum for Ukrainian Catholic musicians, which was also reported here at Chant Café.

The talk begins at about 15 minutes into this video, prefaced by an introduction to the Chicago-based Lumen Christi Institute, which is presenting the series; and by a prayer for the late Fr. Paul Mankowski, SJ, a scholar in biblical languages and a friend of the Institute; I remember him for his contribution to pro-life efforts during his studies in Boston, and I commend him also to your prayers.

The Institute for Catholic Culture, a fine adult-education program based in Virginia, is presenting a lecture soon about the state of music in the Catholic Church in the U.S. On Tuesday, September 15, the poet and translator Prof. Anthony Esolen (Magdalen College) will speak on “Music and the Corruption of Catholicism“.

Dr. Esolen has written before on music and Catholic life. His book Real Music: a Guide to the Timeless Hymns of the Church includes a demonstration CD produced by one of the admirable choirs of St. john Cantius parish in Chicago. And for a sample of Dr. Esolen’s thinking on classic hymns, here’s an article from 2018 in Crisis Magazine.

The lecture on September 15 is to be streamed with live video starting at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time, and registration is required.

Charles Cole, director of the London Oratory Schola Cantorum, was interviewed by EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo this week concerning singing in the time of the Coronavirus. He is doing important work in getting choirs to sing again.

CMAA President William Mahrt tells us that Charles is working with a committee of the CMAA to establish a statement of what needs to be done, as an answer to the negative statement of the NATS and the ACDA.

The music of composer and conductor Paul Jernberg was featured today on EWTN, in a Mass for Pentecost Sunday:

The Mass was recorded in 2019 at the beautiful Church of St. John the Guardian of Mary, in Clinton, Massachusetts.

UPDATE: An interview with Paul Jernberg appeared at New Liturgical Movement a few days ago.

The Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, CA, are streaming their Vespers today, Easter Sunday, and for the rest of the Easter Octave.

A Facebook “event” announcement is at
https://www.facebook.com/events/656075655192204/

and the video is scheduled to appear live on the page of the charity “Aid to the Church in Need“, whose founder and whose current US director are both Norbertines: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchInNeed

The time of the Vespers on Easter Sunday will be 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time (6:30 p.m. Eastern). (See the event page for the other days.)

UPDATE: The first-time video was shaky, but it was good to hear the fully chanted Office, including falsobordone verses on the Magnificat.

From earlier this morning, at St. Patrick Oratory in Waterbury, CT:

The chant schola is directed by David Hughes.

(This post replaces an earlier post whose video feed had a sound problem.)