As I’ve argued on these pages many times, parishes seeking to improve the spiritual lives of their people should make time for Confessions on Sundays, at the convenience of the sheep.
The National Catholic Register makes the argument here.
Music and Fine Arts Professorship Announcement
Some of our readers may be interested in this excellent opportunity.
Wyoming Catholic College seeks to hire a person who is capable both of teaching the music courses (see the Fine Arts page of our website for a description) together with at least one other subject in the pre-set curriculum, particularly Art History and Humanities, and of leading the College’s sacred music program. The combined position is full time.
The applicant must have already completed at least a Masters degree in music, preferably a doctorate. Especially desired is a candidate who has benefited from a traditional liberal arts education that will enable him or her to teach music with a sympathetic awareness of the principles, methods, and Great Books of other disciplines. A well-developed sensitivity to the spiritual and religious dimensions of great art will make the applicant more suitable to the overall educational mission of Wyoming Catholic College.
The applicant should have the ability to lead the sacred music program, in keeping with the language of the Philosophical Vision Statement: “Wyoming Catholic College will establish and cultivate a proper campus culture through the liturgy, sacraments, and music of the Roman Catholic Church integrated into the life of the College.” The mixed choir, a popular extracurricular activity that has been running for ten years, sings a wide repertoire of choral music by great composers such as Palestrina, Victoria, Tallis, Byrd, Bach, Mozart, and Bruckner. The Choir rehearses once a week and sings twice a week at Mass. For its part, the Schola Cantorum prepares and performs Gregorian chant for the collegiate liturgies.
The applicant should understand and agree with the vision and mission of Wyoming Catholic College as articulated in the Philosophical Vision Statement and the Academic Catalog. This understanding and agreement are to be manifested in the letter of intent.
The professor is required to teach a course load of 8–12 hours per week and to run the sacred music program (approximately 4 hours of rehearsal time per week, plus preparations and liturgies). Any overtime is compensated. Faculty at WCC are committed to teaching and serving students as their first and foremost responsibility. At the beginning of each academic year, all Catholic faculty make a Profession of Faith and take the Oath of Fidelity, and non-Catholic faculty make a pledge to respect the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Rank and salary commensurate with degrees earned and teaching experience; salary and benefits competitive.
A letter of intent with curriculum vitae should be sent to the Academic Dean, Dr. Thaddeus Kozinski, Wyoming Catholic College, 306 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520, or by email submission to thaddeus.kozinski@wyomingcatholic.org
Application deadline: We are reviewing applications beginning February 12, 2018 until the position is filled.
Sacred Music at Dunwoodie
If this has already been posted I apologize, but the summer sacred music courses at Dunwoodie sound too good to miss.
The principles of Sacred Music program would be of benefit to virtually anyone in parochial music, including, (shh… don’t tell anyone I said this,) Praise & Worship or liturgical “folk” musicians
Almost indubitably anyone reading this already knows of Jenny Donelson, oops, sorry, Dr. Jennifer Donelson, but if you don’t I can’t recommend her highly enough as a teacher, (a break-out session she gave at a CMAA Colloquium about liturgical Sequences is one of my highlights of over a decade of Colloquia.)
An interesting facet of one offering is the online/on campus components, and omigosh you underpaid Church musicians! Just LOOK at the inexpensive room and board, (I don’t suppose they have enough room for the colloquium ever?)
Gregorian Festival in Watou, Belgium
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| Watou Festival photograph |
If you are finding the month of May lacking in entertainment, why not consider this festival of Gregorian chant scholas and choirs.
International Gregorian Festival of Watou
You might find the site a bit tricky to navigate since much of it is Dutch (Flemish). However, even if travel isn’t in your plans, it’s nice to know what others are up to in the sacred music world.
Interestingly, this festival always has a South Korean presence. And if you visit the site of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, you will find a considerable number of Korean students. What is the relationship there? Is chant more popular than guitar music in Korean Catholic circles? And why are the singers predominantly women? Why does life present so many questions?
To the Mother of God
Last week I pointed out to some children that the chant we were learning was written a thousand years ago.
That was about the time the great saint Peter Damian was writing, among other works, beautiful hymns.
Here is my translation of one of them.
O Theotokos, Mary blest,
Our human nature’s shining crest,
Through you we have our liberty,
Free children of the light to be.
O Virgin, Queen of heav’n and earth,
Though of King David’s stock by birth,
Your royal dignity has come
Not from your fathers, but your Son.
Release us from the ancient root.
Graft us in Him, the newborn shoot.
Through you may we become by grace,
A royal, priestly, human race.
O offer holy prayers to win
Release from all our bonds of sin.
We praise your merits to the skies:
May we in heaven share your prize.
Exemplar of virginity,
Give glory to the Trinity,
Whose endless treasure-stores of gifts
Through you our human nature lifts.
The morning call of the rooster
One of the wonderful things about translating Latin hymns is seeing their daring use of biblical imagery.
I doubt many writers would characterize the prophetic voice as a rooster, but Jesus did, and so St. Ambrose does too.
Of course the rooster simply tells of the morning, whose Sun is the true Source of light, a light that darkness can never overcome, and Whose word is worthy of trust.
Aeterne rerum Conditor
Eternal maker of all things
Of day and night the sov’reign King,
Refreshing mortals, You arrange
The rhythm of the seasons’ change
Of day and night the sov’reign King,
Refreshing mortals, You arrange
The rhythm of the seasons’ change
The rooster sounds his morning cry
–Throughout the night he watched the sky–
For travelers, a guiding light
To tell the watches of the night.
The morning star that hears the cry
Dispels the darkness from the sky.
The demons, hearing the alarm
Abandon all their paths of harm.
The sailor hears and he is brave;
The sea becomes a gentle wave.
The rooster’s call reached Peter’s ears:
He washed away his sins in tears.
Our wav’ring hearts, Lord Jesus, see.
O look upon us, make us free,
For in Your gaze no fault can stay,
And sins by tears are washed away.
O Light, upon our senses shine.
Dispel our sleepiness of mind,
That we may sing Your morning praise,
Then, vows fulfilling, live our days.
Get Ready for the 2018 Summer Colloquium!
Make your plans now to join dedicated singers, directors, and conductors at Loyola University in Chicago for this year’s Colloquium, June 25th to 30th.
- There will be a distinguished faculty.
- There will be beautiful Masses in the splendid Madonna della Strada chapel!
- Couses in chant for beginners to advanced.
- A choice of polyphony choirs.
- Plenary speakers of note.
- Breakout sessions on topics pertinent to the musician and lover of sacred music.
- A chance to share strategies, successes, and ideas with colleagues at meals.
- Reasonable rates for dormitory housing (with a hotel option for those who prefer it)
- Theory and practice meet here in six wonderful days.
- An opportunity to step into a wholehearted immersion in the best music of the Latin Rite.
Better than my words, watch this video:
Why am I talking about this in February?
Early registration for the Colloquium ends on March 1st.
Why register now? You’ll save money, of course!
Pay in full now for early registration and you save $50.
If you’re a member, you’ll also get your $50 member discount.
Do the math.
And of course, if you’re not a member, you should be!
Visit the Colloquium pages for all the information on courses and choirs, meal plans and lodging, registration, and more.
We look forward to seeing you in the Windy City in June 2018!