 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
Tina in Ashburn
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 282 |
| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 12th, 2007 02:30 pm |
|
The third week of June I attended the yearly Colloquium of the Catholic Music Association of America [CMAA] at Catholic University in Washington DC. Learning sacred polyphony and Gregorian chant was the objective for the week. The point of the Colloquium is Restoration of the Sacred, or rather, getting back to the basics of what used to be common musical practice in the liturgy before the late 60s. As Pope Benedict's resolve to "reform the Reform" becomes more and more apparent, so has the interest in Latin, Gregorian Chant, the Ward method, and Sacred Polyphony. As the American dioceses grow which allow the former pre-Vatican II Mass, laity and clergy are scrambling to learn more.
Now with the new freedom of allowing the old Mass, this is even more meaningful.
Some stuff I learned:
•Justine Ward, founder of the Ward Method, taught that music and art is more important for the development of character than the “three Rs”. The “three Rs” teach the intellect whereas music and art correspond to emotional development.
•The official songbook of the Catholic Church is the Graduale Romanum. Hymns are wayyyyy down in priority after first singing the Ordinary and the Propers.
•Not everybody is focused on happy-slappy-anything-goes music. There are many talented, devoted, young musicians who are committed to driving great music in parishes around the nation and world. And now we are finding each other. One young kid I met is teaching a monastery how to chant.
•Interesting websites such as http://www.church-music.org. [formerly musicasacra.com], the blog http://www.thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com , and http://www.liturgyquest.org
This was my first time attending. Many were repeat attendees who had already experienced this shock of finding such a population on what we'd thought was a deserted island. In fact, this was the most-attended Colloquium ever. They ran out of room and were turning away people seven weeks before we even got there!
The days consisted of about four hours of singing with rehearsals and sung Mass; and a lecture or two. There was an organ recital, sight-singing of original compositions, and a Friday night coffeehouse. Meal times and free time [what little there was] were convivial as we met attendees from across the nation and other countries. We traded jokes, compared experiences, described how we came to be there, shared insights, and described helpful resources. The life-stories varied from being raised on the old Mass and singing chant as a child to having been an apathetic Catholic running on the music of the St Louis Jesuits until hearing chant "converted" him. One attendee said to me, "Everyone I have met here is interesting. Nobody's boring!" We shared an underlying seriousness and focus, as well as quick wit and humor. At some point in our church-music lives, all of us have felt somewhat isolated, but with the Internet explosion, we have started to find each other. This Colloquium has become more popular as the CMAA's presence on the 'net has matured. Many expressed surprise at the number of like-minded music-lovers, similar in shared interests and intense drive. The overall delight became palpable as we met each other and discovered so many with similar experiences and beliefs.
The lectures, the conversation, singing together all exhibited a devotion to God and His glory and a desire to perfect the Liturgy with the right music. I felt a rare happiness.
We didn’t just learn about music, we did it. The program included intense rehearsals and then singing the Mass. Our second Mass was a high Requiem Mass for deceased CMAA members. The priests somberly floated in, preceded by acolytes carrying candles and the gently swinging thurible of incense. It was so beautiful I could barely contain myself from weeping as I joined 145 voices singing with devotion and united hearts. Every part of the Mass was sung, including the lessons. The air was thick with rising incense and song. As we chanted the Dies Irae, I wondered were we accompanying souls as they were released from suffering?
There were about 145 attending, including 17 priests. Some priests who had signed up couldn’t get away at the last minute. There were classes of Priest Training for Sung Mass. Being in the presence of priests was especially comforting as they learned along with us, offered information in discussion, and blessed our meals. Other participants included many music directors [some brought by their priests], organists, and choir members. One woman I met didn't play an instrument nor was she in a choir. She just wanted to learn.
It’s almost hopeless to describe the talent of the staff. Our director of the polyphony choir, and Vice President of the Association, Horst Buchholz led us through challenging music in a short amount of time as we prepared different pieces for each day. He is the Director at the cathedral in Denver, CO and to my humble experience, demonstrated world-class abilities, while correcting us with crazy humor. Even our accompanist David Hughes was extraordinary. He was an attentive accompanist, who at times burst out with a silly jazzed version of some Church piece, as well as an accomplished organist. In Amy Zuberbueler's chant fundamentals classes we were led through the complicated lessons on analyzing chant as we sang. We learned as much as we could about the Ward method along the way, which teaches theory and ear-training as a basis for perfect chant. Scott Turkington, a rare world-renowned chant expert, led the advanced schola - his charming personality and light-heartedness belies his exacting talent. The lectures of Dr Mahrt describing chant, Kurt Poderack's presentation on selecting hymns, those of Fr Skeris - this posting can't contain a deserved description. And I'm leaving out Jeff Tucker and Arlene Oost-Zinner.
For more information on the Colloquium [see the back of my head in several photos!], music resources, upcoming workshops and events, and excellent historical music information go to http://www.musicasacra.com [or new address: http://www.church-music.org.].
For those that like detail down to what music was sung, here's what we did:
Sung Morning and Night Prayer at the Shrine
4 Rehearsals, Chant schola, fundamentals or advanced
8 Rehearsals, Polyphony choir
Rehearsals, Chamber choir [auditioned members]
Lecture: Introduction to Sacred Music ( Dr. William Mahrt)
Lecture: On Pastoral Liturgy: “Selecting Excellent Hymns” (Dr. Kurt Poterack)
Lecture: The Communion Antiphons (Dr. William Mahrt)
Lecture: The Responsorial Psalm (Dr. William Mahrt)
Lecture: Theology of Worship (Rev. Robert Skeris)
Lecture and Demo: Ward Method (Zuberbueler)
An Organ Recital (Dr. Peter Latona, Upper church, Shrine)
A coffeehouse: included groups that sung personal favorites, original compositions, a comedy routine
A new music reading of original compositions/arrangements by various attendees of motets, hymns, and full Masses
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Daily we sang a Mass in the Crypt of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, except for one Mass at St. Mary's for the 1962 Rite.
Mass in English: Ferial Mass of the 11th Week of the year (Crypt Church, Shrine)
• Chant: English Propers, including sung Epistle and Gospel
• Chant: English Ordinary
• Hymn: Praise, My Soul the King of Heaven (Goss)
Mass in Latin: Requiem Mass for deceased CMAA members (Crypt Church, Shrine)
• Propers: Chant: Introit - Requiem aeternam; Gradual - Requiem aeternam; Domine Iesu Christe; Sequence - Dies irae; Communio - Lux aeterna; In paradisum; Chorus angelorum; including sung Epistle and Gospel
• Ordinary: Chant Mass XVIII
• Motets: I am the Resurrection and the Life (William Croft); Ave Verum (Elgar)
Mass in Latin: Feast of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, Martyrs (Crypt Church, Shrine)
• Propers: Chant Introit - Multae tribulationes; Gradual - Venite, filii; Alleluia - Sancti tui; Offertory - Mirabilis Deus; Communio - Justorum animae; including sung Epistle and Gospel
• Ordinary: Polyphony Missa O Quam Gloriosum (Victoria)
• Motets: O Nata Lux (Thomas Tallis) and Os Justi (Bruckner)
Mass in Latin [1962 Missal]: St. Mary Mother of God, Wash D.C.; Anticipatory Mass of Nativity of John, Baptist
• Propers: Asperges [Buchholz, chant and polyphony]; Chant Introit - De ventre matris; Gradual - Priusquam te formarem; Alleluia - Tu, puer propheta altissimi; Credo III; Offertory - Justus ut palma florebit; Communio - Tu, puer propheta altissimi; Ut queant laxis; including sung Epistle and Gospel
• Ordinary: Chant Kyrie Missa I Lux et Origo; Polyphony Missa Sexti Toni (Croce)
• Motets: Cantate Domino (Monteverdi) and Ego Sum Panis Vivus (Palestrina)
Mass in Latin: Missa Cantata (Crypt Church, Shrine): Feast of Saint John the Baptist
• Propers: Asperges [Buchholz, chant and polyphony]; Chant Introit - De ventre matris; Gradual - Priusquam te formarem; Alleluia - Tu, puer propheta altissimi; Credo III; Offertory - Justus ut palma florebit; Communio - Tu, puer altissimi; Ut queant laxis; including sung Epistle and Gospel
• Ordinary: Chant Kyrie Missa I Lux et Origo; Polyphony Missa Sexti Toni (Croce)
• Motets: Cantate Domino (Monteverdi) and Ego Sum Panis Vivus (Palestrina)
____________________
Tina
Arlington Diocese
|
|
|
Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 12th, 2007 03:31 pm |
|
Oh MAN, (or is that "O Man?") would I like to attend something like that!!!!
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
|
|
|
Tina in Ashburn
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 282 |
| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 12th, 2007 03:45 pm |
|
You can! Let's go! They'll have it next year. Also there are workshops all around the country - Buchholz mentioned his workshop in Denver in January for instance.
Check out their web site for various events.
http://www.church-music.org
No Annie, you can't bring your gun. At least not until they get to know you a little.
____________________
Tina
Arlington Diocese
|
|
|
bjbouwer
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 54 |
| First Name: | Bonnie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian Scientist, pinball Christian, RCC in 2006 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 12th, 2007 03:53 pm |
|
hello Tina -- I almost went to this! I really wish I had, especially now that you've described it. A girl from my church was there - she's known for a CD she put out. Now she's trying to stir up interest in chant and has a schola cantorum going. I've been too involved with RCIA and substituting on organ to help out much.
I hope to go next year. Maybe I'll see you there!
____________________
Bonnie in WI
|
|
|
Tina in Ashburn
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 282 |
| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 12th, 2007 09:32 pm |
|
No way Bonnie?! Too bad you didn't come - but like you say, there's next year. Because they expect attendance to double, I think they are considering another city, since Catholic U won't be able to contain it. I'd also suggest registering as early as possible to ensure you get in.
I think only two came from Wisconsin - your friend and Father Skeris. I probably met Darcy - it was all a blur.
You are lucky to have someone dedicated enough to make a stab at starting a schola. From what I heard at the Colloquium, this is happening in many cities.Last edited on Fri Jul 13th, 2007 11:01 am by Tina in Ashburn
____________________
Tina
Arlington Diocese
|
|
|
Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 13th, 2007 10:28 am |
|
Tina in Ashburn wrote: No Annie, you can't bring your gun. At least not until they get to know you a little.
 *splurpl*
Actually this is a sore point with me. One big reason I had to change parishes was because the priest at the former parish was so anti-hunting and anti-gun it was obviously a mental problem and every single time he saw me he made rude insulting remarks equating me with a murderer. I know he is mentally ill but being run out of town is bad.
Last edited on Fri Jul 13th, 2007 11:31 am by Annie
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
|
|
|
CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5457 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 13th, 2007 02:26 pm |
|
Annie wrote: Oh MAN, (or is that "O Man?")
Can I hear an Amen? 
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
|
|
|
pamflute
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Tampa, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 24 |
| First Name: | Pam | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist to Presbyterian to United Methodist to Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 14th, 2007 07:46 am |
|
Dear Tina:
This sounds like a great workshop and something I need to go to! I am on the verge of accepting a music position in a Catholic school which is related to a parish near where I live. The music director at the church is very concerned about the school as they have had no music program in the past few years. He wants to be sure that the students learn the music for the mass and be introduced to at least some sacred music. I am amazed that music is given such little attention in Catholic schools, at least Catholic schools down here. No chorus, no band, no general music, basically almost nothing! No wonder Catholics can't and don't sing! This is going to be one challenging assignment for me as I am a new Catholic and I am more accustomed to using music from Plank Road Publishing, which although very kid friendly, is not exactly the type of music that one wants to use in mass. Any help you can give me as to curriculum, etc. would be welcomed. I am currently looking at the Royal Schools of Church Music Curriculum called "Voices for Life". Have you heard of this and what is your opinion of it? Any other suggestions from you or anyone else would be welcomed!
|
|
|
Tina in Ashburn
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 282 |
| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 14th, 2007 10:53 am |
|
Dear Pam, What an awesome responsibility you have. You have many options for curriculum choices and also available resources.
I'm no teacher and am no expert in music although I've been involved in music most of my life. So my ideas here are worth about what you are paying for it.
Among the options you have is to create a curriculum of Catholic music, which is really hard to find these days. It sounds like the pastor [since he hired this music director] would support this. I am appalled at the lack of familiarity of the old Catholic hymns for instance. Teaching kids the old stand-bys like Immaculate Mary and Holy God would be my first choices. The reason this is important is that the theology is so solid in these songs. And these old stand-bys are God-centered rather than the choices that sing about US and how we feel about God or what He'll do for me. But that is just hymns.
Hymns are good for Adoration, May crowning of Mary, First Communions, etc. Hopefully your pastor will encourage you to teach and do, using these songs whenever possible.
Not just hymns, but it sounds like the pastor wants you to teach Mass parts. Hymns are only replacements for the Propers and nothing else. So for instance, when we sing a Communion hymn, the priest skips saying the Communion Verse Proper for that day. When you familiarize yourself with the Church documents on music, you will find a discussion on the "degrees" of importance: Mass Ordinary first [Kyrie, Gloria, etc], Mass Propers second [opening antiphon, gradual, etc] and LASTLY hymns. When anything is sung at Mass, no hymns should be sung unless the Mass parts are sung, and the Propers are sung. Get it? To teach Mass parts you can start with the simpler ones like Jubilate Deo or the Missa de Angelis, and the commonly sung version of the Our Father. Due to their simplicity, after a while the congregation will be joining in.
The curriculum of course needs to involve the joy of music so depending on the age and attention span there are a myriad of options for this too.
I realize that having little exposure to healthy music has a grave impact on the development of the ear and the ability to simply match pitch. A very educated woman around here who often teaches children or leads children's choirs has found great difficultly teaching children to sing because of the influence of today's music. She could barely get the majority of children to "hear" a note or match it. So the lack of exposure of music there is going to make your job tough. You will get comfort in teaching the little ones, those little "sponges"!
Along these lines of ear-training and music theory is Justine Ward's "Ward method". I can't describe to you how important this is, and you will recognize it's value once you start educating yourself about this method. If you do nothing else in life, it should be to familiarize yourself with this whole process. I could create a separate thread on this subject... In early 1900s this American developed a curriculum to teach children ear-training and music theory. This method evolved into the best way to teach chant. She actually lived near Solesmes for five years just to immerse herself in chant there. You can get the course books online at the church-music site and get in touch with those that teach this method - these teachers are in very short supply. Mrs Ward's method is a holistic approach that includes movements, visual, theory, hearing, doing. Besides movement and visual aids, this relies on the "Do Re Mi" method of teaching intervals. In spite of the Sound of Music history of this tune, it is actually based on an old medieval chant verse where each verse starts with "Ut [which became Do later]", "Re", "Mi" etc. Each of these notes were sequential on the octave scale. I have talked to people in their late 50s and 60s who were taught this method by the nuns as children. To this day, they can sight read anything even though they are not particularly musical. Justine Ward proved that anyone can learn rhythm and pitch when you start early.
I'm not familiar with "Royal Schools". My best advice would be to contact the folks at http://www.church-music.org who can put you in touch with a myriad of resources. It may be "jeff" who responds. I recommend you familiarize yourself with a better Catholic curriculum, come to an understanding of Catholic music, get familiar with some of the many people who are immersed in this restoration of old music with whom you can converse.
Please PM me if you need more guidance and we can exchange emails or talk. I know some music folks around here that went to the Colloquium who can help you identify your options and who may have ideas for you down in Florida. The Colloquium folks are big-hearted when it comes to this theme. Also if your pastor needs contacts, invite him into this conversation. There are priests dedicated to this as well with whom I can put him in touch.Last edited on Sat Jul 14th, 2007 10:57 am by Tina in Ashburn
____________________
Tina
Arlington Diocese
|
|
|
pamflute
Member
| Joined: | Thu Jan 18th, 2007 |
| Location: | Tampa, Florida USA |
| Posts: | 24 |
| First Name: | Pam | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist to Presbyterian to United Methodist to Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 14th, 2007 11:00 am |
|
Dear Tina:
Thanks for all your input! There is so much for me to learn and I love learning! I went to the Sacred Music website and looked at some of the materials. I will be talking with the music director tonight at mass and we will be getting together in the next couple of weeks to plan for the year's music classes. I'm thinking that he wants me to teach singing versus general music which is my area of expertise in the past couple of years. Of course, general music always includes a lot of singing but it is not so specific. I will get in touch with the people at the website you mentioned and will probably be sending you a private email. I welcome your input very much!
Pam
|
|
|
Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1479 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 14th, 2007 01:58 pm |
|
| Now Annie, is that a sweet little deer I see in your avatar?!! We may have to start a new topic!
|
|
|
Tina in Ashburn
Member
| Joined: | Mon May 21st, 2007 |
| Location: | Ashburn, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 282 |
| First Name: | Tina | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Cradle Roman Catholic, Ukranian Catholic, presently practicing as Roman Latin ... |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 14th, 2007 02:31 pm |
|
Is the name of that little deer "BLAM-BLAMbi"?
Now you know Annie, I'm okay with your hobby. My son's in the Navy - he got categorized as "sharpshooter" on the first try. Runs in the family I might add.
____________________
Tina
Arlington Diocese
|
|
|
CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5457 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 14th, 2007 03:33 pm |
|
Tina in Ashburn wrote: I could create a separate thread on this subject...
Please do, but post it in The Mass forum. That's the appropriate place for any discussion centered on the Liturgy.
____________________
Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
|
|
|
Current time is 11:43 pm | |
|
|
|
|
|
