Ah, the choir today was absolutely fabulous. It is everthing that I had hoped for in the past year. More than just singing something at the liturgy, this time they brought life and excitement to the music throughout the entire mass.
They took a break from their summer vacation to come back and sing the Mass where we honored Fr. Steven Lopes on his new appoinment to the CDF. Our new music director is doing a fabulous job. All this time when wanting more from the choir, they had been led to believe I wanted less and even considered them unimportant. Nothing could be further from the truth. With Sam at the helm, there is a great deal of hope for the next choir year, and many of the choir members have expressed thanks and support for the new director.
It was only about 15 members from the choir, but they sounded better and larger than they had all year. The descants were well placed, and the choir involvement in the Gloria and in the Psalm brought a freshness and vitality to the Liturgy. The other two choir selections were beautifully executed and very prayerful. What a grace!
All Creatures of Our God and King
Kyrie Cum Jubilo
Melodic Gloria, James Chepponis
The Seed that Falls on Good Ground, Psalm 65 from the Gelineau Psalter
Paschal Alleluia, Tone VI with verse
Tu Es Sacerdos, Robert Kreutz
The Community Mass Acclamations and Agnus Dei, Proulx
In Memory of You/Ave Verum, Peloquin
Ave Verum Corpus, Saint-Saens
Holy, Holy, Holy
Mmmmmmm, nice.
How long did it take to teach the congregation that Gloria?
Jealous and Anonymous
Was there a communion procession song that the assembly could sing (at least the refrain) ?
"In Memory of You" By Peloquin. It is a quite singable refrain and the people are doing it quite well.
Also with the new music director the communion hymn is now starting with communion. Odd, how I could never get that happen before. But the noticable result is that the people are now singing the communion hymn.
The Saint-Saens is a very juicy setting: I used it in the early 90's with probably the best and most versatile choir I've ever had the privilege of working for.
There have been some changes to the blog and to the commenting feature. Thanks RC for all your work. I am just trying out the new comment features.
Hello, Your July 10, 2005 blog Resurrexit sicut dixit indicated your choir sang Robert E. Kreutz's Tu es sacerdos. I have been looking for this for years. In April I would like to do it for an ordination. The ordinand first sang it as a teenager in Seoul, Korea, sometime in 1965-1966 [sic]. I can't find a place that has it to beg, borrow, or sell. Is it possible to rent it from you, get a copy of the organ part (I have the choral part), or do you know who the publisher is, if it was published? (The copies we sang from back then looked as if it might have been self-published, or published by a small small press.) This piece has special meaning to us, and we would dearly love to do it. Best, Marilyn