Musicam Sacram

You’re invited: we’re having a casual get-together at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Chancery office in Knoxville. E-mail me for directions and to RSVP so I can make sure there’s enough food. I’m bringing sandwiches. Feel free to bring salad, cookies, fruit, and other accompaniments.

No fixed agenda—just an opportunity for us to discuss our choirs’ successes and challenges.

I look forward to hearing about your programs.

Our friend Jeff Ostrowski (of Chabanel Psalm Project fame) has launched a fabulous new project: the all-new Jogueschant.org.

On this website users may download the propers for any given Sunday or feast and also hear mp3 files of each chant.

I encourage those practicing chant to work their way through a piece on their own before listening—but then to listen to a correctly sung chant to see whether they’ve gotten it right and picked up on the nuances.

This is just another example of the spirit of cooperation I see so frequently in church musicians who embrace the Roman Rite’s musical treasury.

Well done, Jeff, and all who are contributing to this worthy effort.

Mary

Noel Jones and I conducted the chapter’s first workshop today at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga. Students from the high school and members of at least two area parishes took part in a daylong session on Gregorian chant and polyphony.

Participants were talented, attentive, and enthusiastic–and it was especially delightful to work with so many good young singers. We’re grateful to Isabel Miller of Notre Dame, our host and the director of the school’s music-ministry program. Isabel is coordinator of music for St. Stephen Parish as well. We also thank our colleague Nancy Fisher of St. Jude Parish, who brought several members of her schola. We expect great things from the convergence of Nancy and Isabel’s musical forces.

Father Tony Dickerson, the school’s spiritual director, welcomed us and began our day with prayer. Father Tony is extremely supportive of those devoted to the church’s timeless sacred music.

Noel and I hope to offer similar workshops in other areas of the Diocese of Knoxville. E-mail for information.

The chapter’s first workshop will be offered at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 20.

The session will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will focus on Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony.

Cost of the workshop is $10 (includes pizza lunch).

Sponsors are Musicam Sacram members Isabel Miller and Nancy Fisher of NDHS and St. Jude Church, respectively. The workshop will be conducted by Noel Jones and Mary Weaver.

For details, e-mail Isabel Miller or the workshop instructors.

Singers and music directors of all faiths are invited to take part in a six-week choir school beginning Wednesday, July 23, at St. John Neumann School in Farragut. Each Wednesday rehearsal will run from 7 to 9 p.m. The program will end with choral evensong on Aug. 27, followed by an ice-cream social for choristers and their guests.

Materials fee for the program is $20 for non-members of St. John Neumann Parish. A few scholarships are available by audition.

Youth and adult singers are welcome. Those who wish to learn basic choral conducting are also encouraged to take part. Singers will have the opportunity to participate in weekend Masses if desired.

Repertory for the program will include Gregorian and English chant and works by composers from the Renaissance, Baroque, and modern eras. Works under consideration range from “Crucifixus” (Lotti), “Adoramus Te” (Viadana), and “Hear My Prayer, O Lord” (Purcell), to 20th-century compositions by Louis Vierne, Morten Lauridsen, and William H. Harris.

The choir school will be conducted by Noel Jones, music director at St. John Neumann. Mr. Jones has worked as a conductor, opera coach, and organ recitalist in the United States, Germany, and Italy.

For further details, visit www.sjnmusic.com or e-mail.