Fr. Brian Austin is a marvelous (and very pastoral!) teacher, and you certainly don’t want to miss the chance to study with him.
Faculty Profile: Horst Buchholz
As a faculty member of the Sacred Music Colloquium Horst Buchholz, vice president of the CMAA and now the new director of the St. Louis Cathedral, contributes both musical experience and highly spirited love of sacred music. St. Louis is very fortunate, and now he has Fr. Samuel Weber as a colleague right there. Glorious things will emerge from this partnership.
I personally marvel at his ability to tackle any score so fearlessly, whether it is an orchestral Mass of the 18th century or a rich polyphonic work from centuries earlier. I’ve never experienced him as a conductor another setting but I understand from those who have that he is at home with Mahler as he is with Monteverdi. The music on the page must enter his musical imagination immediately, and he certainly has the capacity to use grace and charm to elicit from singers exactly what he hears in his head.
He has never missed a performance deadline. In some ways, he is the very opposite of a “diva,” happy to be as practical as necessary to get the job done but always with high standards. The Graduale Romanum is utterly transparent to him and he can probably sing sizable portions of it by memory. And for a person of such extraordinary training and accomplishment, he is so approachable and humble as well.
The first time he attended the colloquium, he came as an attendee, singing alongside everyone else. It was only later in the week that I realized just who he was – sort of like having the CEO of company show up in disguise as a regular customer.
Attendees are very fortunate for the chance to get to know him, and the Colloquium benefits enormously by having a musician of such high caliber in our presence for a week.
Gregorian Chant Conference, Montreal
Contemplating Scripture through Gregorian Chant, with Ted Krasnicki
Thursday, April 7th, from 7 to 9 pm, location TBA. *
The talk is FREE of charge.
Donations are appreciated.
“Gregorian Chant inspires one to meditate on Scripture for the music illuminates the beauty of the words.”
In this conference, I would like to discuss how Gregorian chant is a meditation on the words of Holy Scripture. Specifically, I would like to show that chant is a musical exegesis of the text, in terms of theology, “word painting”, inner sentiment of the singer.
Limiting discussion to the Propers of the Mass, we will first examine some of the historical issues on the formation of these Propers and how they eventually became part of what we now call Gregorian chant.
We will then discuss the nature of the Propers to see how the music for each type of Proper has its distinctive character. Finally, we will examine specific chants to illustrate how Gregorian chant has a musical language which it uses to say something important about the text. There will be a wide selection, time permitting, for the listeners to hear for themselves how this musical language will lead them into a deeper contemplation of the text. Discussion will follow.
Dr. Ted Krasnicki was born and educated in Montreal (McGill University, 1974; Concordia University, 1983; Université de Montréal, 1994). He was cantor and member of Gregorian Schola St Patrick’s Basilica Montreal from 1985 to 1988. In 1986 he participated in Conference on Gregorian Chant at the Université de Montréal where
he first met Clément Morin, pss. From 1988 through 1991 he studied and sang under the direction of Père Morin.Call the Centre at 514-481-1064 or email us at centre@ignatiancentremtl.ca
Roman Missal Training for Church Musicians at the Liturgical Institute
The Liturgical Institute of St. Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein, IL is holding a two day conference on April 8th and 9th for Church Musicians in preparation for the revised translation of the Roman Missal. The conference is an extension of the Mystical Body Mystical Voice program which provides catechesis and resources for the implementation of the Roman Missal on the parish level. The presenters are Fr. Douglas Martis (Institute Director), Christopher Carstens (Director of the Office of Worship, LaCrosse), and Fr. John-Mark Missio (Church Musician).
Here is a quick look at the five sessions that are being presented, all of which are immersed in chanted Morning Prayer, Midday Prayer, Vespers, and Mass:
Session I: A Liturgical Primer
The Word Made Flesh: A liturgical primer considering the Trinity as a divine love song in which we participate as members of Christ’s Mystical BodySession II: Maturing in the Word: Liturgical Texts
A scriptural, historical and theological exploration of the principal sung parts of the MassSession III: The Song of the Mystical Body
An exploration of the singing of scriptural texts in the liturgy with attention to proper texts, and the selection of hymns and canticles in their placeSession IV: A Mystical Sound for the Mystical Body?
The chants of the new Missal as a point of contact with the sound of the Roman RiteSession V: Hymns and Propers in Theory and Practice
A survey of vernacular settings of the Propers and similar repertoire
The Liturgical Institute is renowned for its orthodox liturgical theology and fidelity to the Mind of the Church. The question has been asked, though, if the Institute does anything to advance orthodox sacred music practice in addition to this. Judging from the content of this conference the answer clearly is YES!
For REGISTRATION and more information on the conference CLICK HERE.
And lastly, here is a wonderful video that describes in more detail what the Liturgical Institute is all about.
St. Basil’s 2011 Winter Chant Workshop
St. Basil’s School of Gregorian Chant is holding its 2011 Winter Chant Workshop next week from March 2nd to March 5th at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.
The workshop will feature guest conductor and instructor Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB of St. Meinrad Archabbey.
Sessions will cover topics ranging from musical settings of the new translation of the Roman Missal, the principles of Gregorian Semiology, and singing chant in Latin and English.
For more information see the St. Basil’s website.
Below are the weekly schedule and curriculum. They look to be packed to the brim!
WEDNESDAY:
EVENING ADDRESS:
Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB: “Chant as the foundation of modern music, and foundation of all composition of Liturgical Music”.THURSDAY:
MORNING SESSION 1:
The ancient oral origins of chant, its rhythm and dynamic structure. the liturgy prayed and sung. Missa Primitiva, Kyrie, the psalms of compline.MORNING SESSION 2:
Semiology discovered: The restoration of Gregorian Chant by Solemnes. The foundations of singing chant. The Missa Primitiva, Sanctus, The “Ave Regina Coelorum”, Compline psalms.AFTERNOON SESSION: 3
A Master Chant Class including University students and faculty. Historical development of chant, rediscovery of semiology. Sample schola performance. “Puer natus est” Introit from Christmas Day. “Dixit Domiuns”, communion from Feast of Cana.AFTERNOON SESSION: 4
Semiology of the Proper: Rorate Coeli (of Advent), Pueri, Haebraeorum (of Lent), “The Marian Hymn “Ave Regina Coelorum”.
ST. BASIL’S CHAPEL: Benedictine ComplineFRIDAY:
MORNING SESSION: 1
The ancient structured “cantillation” of Chant. Discovering the foundation of today’s, chant melodies and psalms. Missa primitiva, Agnus Dei, Vespers Psalms, the great “Magnificat”, the melismatic “Alleluias”MORNING SESSION: 2
Ancient “cantillation” continued: Missa primitive, Agnus Dei, The “O” Antiphons of Advent, Salve Regina, Vespers Psalms.AFTERNOON SESSION: 3
The melismatic level of Chant, “Rorate Coeli” of Advent, “Puer Natus” of Christmas: Semiology of the hymn, “Veni Creator Spritus”, Vespers “Magnificat”AFTERNOON SESSION: 4
Chant today as the sung prayer of the Church and the Liturgy sung: Vespers Psalms, Semiology of “Alma Redemptoris Mater” Vespers “Magnificat”
Vespers: 13th Century Menil Byzantine Fresco Chapel.SATURDAY:
MORNING SESSION: 1
Melisma of “Alleluias”: Alleluias 1 & 2: Marian Hymns: Advent “Alma Redemptoris Mater”, Paschal “Regina Coeli” , “Conditor Alme Siderum”, “Veni Creator Spritus”.MORNING SESSION: 2
New English Chant of the Roman Missal: Alternate Chant of St. Meinrad., “Ubi Caritas” of Holy Thursday, Lenten Marian Hymn: “Ave Regina Coelorum”.AFTERNOON SESSION: 3
Preparation of Chants, Mass parts for the Solemn Vigil. Missa Primitiva, “Conditor Alme Siderum”, “Ave, Regina Coelorum”, Gospel “Alleluia”.AFTERNOON SESSION: 4
Chants of the new English Roman Missal. Alternate chants of St. Meinrad.4:15: Break for preparation of Liturgy:
Schola Cantorum Chapel rehearsal
4:45 pm: Assemble for Missa Solemnis
Musica Sacra, Florida conference in April
The registration and conference page for the 3rd Annual Musica Sacra Florida Conference are now up and running.
Sponsored by the Florida Chapter of the Church Music Association of America in conjunction with the Department of Music, Ave Maria University, Ave Maria, Florida.
Friday, April 1st – Saturday, April 2nd, 2011
It’s going to be a great program!
EF Training in Scranton
The Knights of Columbus Council 14829 in Scranton is offering a one day informational seminar Saturday, February 19, 2011 featuring an introduction to the extraordinary form of the Mass, according to the 1962 Roman Missal. The seminar will be held at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 1703 Jackson Street, Scranton, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The presentation will begin with an explanation and overview of the traditional Latin Mass by Father Justin Nolan, FSSP, of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, followed by a question and answer period. A “sung” Mass, or Missa Cantata, will follow at 11:30. After lunch, Father Nolan will provide two additional presentations for a more in depth understanding of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
The seminar’s objective is to provide an educational, interactive, friendly and prayerful experience to inquirers of the traditional Latin Mass through talks on history, theology, and spirituality. The day includes participation in a Missa Cantata with Gregorian Chant and other forms of sacred music.
The seminar is free, including lunch, and open to the public. Interest in the traditional Latin Mass has grown in recent years, especially since July 2007 when Pope Benedict XVI issued the Motu Proprio, Summorum Pontificum, permitting priests to freely celebrate the older liturgy.
One of the Pope’s objectives in issuing the Motu Proprio was to clarify that the Traditional Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo Missae, or new Mass, are part of the “same rite.” Like his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI has made unity a major goal of his pontificate. The Church, he said, must make “every effort” to achieve unity, adding: “Let us generously open our hearts and make room for everything that the faith itself allows.”
For more information, please email knights14829@gmail.com or call the rectory at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church at 570-961-1205.