Thanks to Ellen Taylor and Fr. Roberto Cid at Radio Paz for this interview with Dr. Jennifer Donelson and Mr. Alejandro Selin.
Click here to listen. (Please be patient as the audio file loads. It’s about 23 MB.)
NB: The interview is bilingual.
CMAA Tournemire Symposium
January 30, 2012
Solemn Pontifical High Mass in the Extraodinary Form of the Roman Rite
The Mass is part of a conference on the French Catholic Composer, Charles Tournemire.
The conference, entitled “Gregorian Chant and Modern Composition for the Catholic Liturgy: Charles Tournemire’s L’Orgue Mystique as Guide” is presented by The Church Music Association of America, in collaboration with Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the Church of the Epiphany in Miami, Florida. It includes recitals and papers by an international collection of performers and academics.
For more information, visit the conference website: http://www.musicasacra.com/tournemire
Tuesday, January 31 – 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. – St. Augustine’s Catholic Church on the University of Miami campus. This session is open to young adults, aged college graduate to 39 and will be presented by Fr. Joseph Fishwick, longtime chaplain of the Latin Mass community in the Archdiocese of Miami.
Thursday, February 2 – 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. – Church of the Epiphany Parish Center. This session is open to high school and college students and will be presented by Fr. Christian Saenz, S.J., a newly ordained priest who teaches theology at Belen Jesuit Prep.
Thursday, February 2 – 6:30-7:00 p.m. – Church of the Epiphany Parish Center. This session is open to adults and families and will be presented by Fr. Christopher Marino, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel church in Miami.
The Archbishop has written a letter of welcome to the conference which may be viewed here: Archbishops Welcome Letter
Florida Pro Musica presents TWO December concerts
December 6, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. – Gregorian Chant IX
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. – A Renaissance Christmas
Florida Pro Musica presents its ninth annual Gregorian Chant concert at Sacred Heart Catholic Church: Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent. Presented in concert form and sung in Latin by a schola of seven men, the program recreates a chanted mass as it might have sounded 1,000 years ago. Appropriate lessons of the day are read in English by a member of the schola. These concerts have become a tradition in the Tampa Bay area, drawing capacity crowds. Join us in celebrating the Advent Season at Sacred Heart Church. The concert begins promptly at 4:00 p.m., and seating takes place from 3:30-3:55. Tickets are $10, and are available at the door or online at www.FloridaProMusica.com.
~ Where: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 509 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL
~ When: Sunday, December 11 at 4:00 p.m.
~ Cost: $10, available at the door or online at www.FloridaProMusica.com
~ Information: Visit www.FloridaProMusica.com or call (813) 494-4709
On Saturday, December 17, Florida Pro Musica, directed by Larry Kent, makes its first concert appearance at Saint John Greek Orthodox Church, featuring a cappella music of the season from Medieval and Renaissance Europe. The concert will include some familiar works such as Lully, lulla (English, 15th century), Riu riu chiu (Spanish, 14th century), Victoria’s O magnum mysterium, and Michael Praetorius’ lovely Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Lo, how a rose). Listeners familiar with the Greek Orthodox tradition will also recognize settings of ancient Greek melodies. Enjoy a special guest performance by the esteemed Chamber Chorus from Tampa Preparatory School, directed by Andrew Hoy.
Join us at Saint John Greek Orthodox Church for this one-hour evening concert, followed by a reception to meet the musicians. The concert is at 7:00 p.m. A freewill offering will be accepted, to benefit St. John and Florida Pro Musica. Seating is limited, and is first-come, first-served.
~ Where: St. John Greek Orthodox Church, 2418 West Swann Avenue, Tampa, FL
~ When: Saturday, December 17 at 7:00 p.m.
~ Cost: Freewill donations accepted
~ Information: Visit www.FloridaProMusica.com or call (813) 494-4709.
First Sunday of Advent at St. Michael the Archangel, Miami
November 29, 2011
For more pictures from the Mass, click here.
Traditional Latin Mass with Archbishop Wenski
November 22, 2011
Planning to come to the Mass on Feb. 2, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Epiphany?
Tournemire Conference Brochure and Posters
November 14, 2011
Looking for a brochure for the Tournemire conference?
Here’s one. It’s printable on 8.5 x 14 legal size paper; make a tri-fold to complete it.
Here are some posters. Both are 11×17. It works best to print them in color and with no page scaling.
Mass with Archbishop Wenski poster
Help us spread the word! Or, if you’d like copies to distribute, please contact Dr. Jennifer Donelson at jd1120 (at) nova (dot) edu.
Requiem at St. Michael the Archangel, Miami
November 10, 2011
On Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, Fr. Christopher Marino celebrated a requiem Mass for the feast of All Souls at the church of St. Michael the Archangel in Miami.
With about 300 in attendance, including many seminarians from St. John Vianney seminary, the Mass was celebrated in the ordinary form of the Roman rite, ad orientam, in Latin, Spanish, and English. Under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Donelson, the traditional chants of the requiem Mass (including Gradual, Tract and Sequence) were sung by choristers from around Miami and the state, including members of the scholae cantorum of St. Michael’s and Sts. Francis and Claire mission parish.
Tournemire Conference Feb 1-3, 2012
October 18, 2011
The conference committee is delighted to announce an upcoming conference on Charles Tournemire entitled “Gregorian Chant and Modern Composition for the Catholic Liturgy: Charles Tournemire’s L’Orgue Mystique as Guide.”
www.musicasacra.com/tournemire
The Church Music Association of America will hold a conference exploring Charles Tournemire’s landmark L’Orgue Mystique on February 1-3, 2012 on the campus of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale and at the Church of the Epiphany in South Miami. The conference seeks to explore the aesthetic, liturgical, and compositional principles of L’Orgue Mystique, the implications of the work for modern compositions inspired by Gregorian chant, and the role of modern compositions and the organ in the Catholic liturgy.
Conference highlights include:
– Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite, celebrated by His Excellency, Thomas G. Wenski, Archbishop of Miami. Musical highlights include Tournemire’s office from L’Orgue Mystique for the day (Purificatio B. Mariæ Virginis), a Missa Brevis by Zachary Wadsworth, and a commissioned motet by Dr. Paul Weber. Ceremonial and logistical assistance for the Mass is provided through the generous efforts of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).
– Opening and Closing Recitals by Rudy de Vos (Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA) and Jonathan Ryan (Concert Organist, Chicago)
– An entire day of recitals featuring repertoire ranging from Naji Hakim and original compositions and improvisations by conference artists to the works of Tournemire, Franck and Langlais.
– The keynote lecture entitled “The Composer as Textual Commentator: Music and Language in Tournemire‘s Symbolist Method” will be given by Dr. Stephen Schloesser, S.J. Schloesser is an Associate Professor of History at Loyola University in Chicago and the author of Jazz Age Catholicism with its noted chapter on Tournemire. He is currently working on a book about Messiaen.
– Conference sessions will explore the shape of the Catholic liturgy and of L’Orgue Mystique, harmonic, improvisation and performance practice as it relates to L’Orgue Mystique, as well as teacher and student relationships to Tournemire.
All conference events at the Church of the Epiphany are free and open to the public, though a free-will donation will be accepted at the door. However, in order to attend all of the conference events, including the events at NSU, registration is required. The deadline for conference registration and payment is Monday, January 3, 2012. The registration fee is non-refundable. Only complete registrations will be available; no 1-day or partial registrations are available. Advance registration is required; no on-site registration is available. Registration is free for NSU students, faculty and staff.
We hope you’ll be able to join us for what promises to be a wonderful conference!
Children’s Choirs at Ave Maria
October 8, 2011
The St. Joseph Singers and Choir of Our Lady of the Angels, the children’s choirs at the Oratory at Ave Maria, will sing for their first Mass of the academic year on Sunday, Oct. 16th at 12:30 p.m. They will be joined by Gregorian chant students of Dr. Susan Treacy (professor of music at Ave Maria University). All are cordially invited to attend.
All are cordially invited to a sung Requiem Mass for the Feast of All Souls, Nov. 2nd at 7:30 p.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Miami (2987 W. Flagler St.)
The scholae cantorum of St. Michael’s and the mission parish of Ss. Francisco y Clara will sing the Gregorian propers and ordinary of the Mass. The Mass will be in the ordinary form of the Roman rite.
Pictures of last year’s Mass can be found on this previous post: https://musicasacraflorida.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/requiem-at-st-michael-the-archangel-miami/
Sacred Music 101
October 3, 2011
Sacred Music 101: A Crash Course on the Church’s Treasury of Music for the Liturgy
Tuesday, Oct. 11th
8:00 p.m.
St. Augustine Church at UM (1400 Miller Rd., Coral Gables)
Dr. Jennifer Donelson, Assistant Professor of Music at Nova Southeastern University
What is Gregorian chant?
How does hearing Gregorian chant at Mass affect my spiritual life?
Why do Church documents refer to chant as “specially suited to the Roman liturgy?” What does that mean?
What else does the Church teach about music at Mass?
Open to young adults from post-undergrad to 40, this topic is presented as part of the weekly YAG meetings at St. Augustine’s. The presentation is free and open to all young adults.
4-Week Introduction to Chant
September 13, 2011
Would you like to learn to sing Gregorian chant?
Read the square notes?
Learn more about the Catholic Church’s tradition of sacred music and sing it at Mass?
This is the class for you.
When: Sundays September 11, 18, 25, and October 2 – 8:00-8:45 a.m., followed by sung Mass in the Extraordinary form of the Roman rite at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Choir Loft of the Mission Parish of San Francisco y Santa Clara (402 NE 29th St., Miami, FL)
Who: Taught by Dr. Jennifer Donelson, Assistant Professor of Music at Nova Southeastern University
Price: Free!
Questions? Contact Dr. Jennifer Donelson at stmichaelchoir@gmail.com
Having studied Gregorian chant at the Catholic University of America and Abbey of St. Peter in Solesmes, France, Dr. Donelson has served as the director of music at St. Gregory the Great Seminary (Diocese of Lincoln, NE) and St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center (UNL) where she founded the Cor Immaculatae Schola Cantorum. She has given diocesan workshops in Gregorian chant across the U.S., is a co-founder of the annual Musica Sacra Florida Gregorian chant conference, and has served on the faculty of the annual colloquium of the Church Music Association of America. She currently directs scholae cantorum at St. Michael the Archangel and Sts. Francis and Claire parishes in Miami, and teaches according to the Ward method in the children’s choirs at the Oratory of Ave Maria, FL.
Conference on Tournemire’s L’Orgue Mystique
July 19, 2011
Gregorian Chant and Modern Composition for the Catholic Liturgy: Charles Tournemire’s L’Orgue Mystique as Guide
February 2-3, 2012
The Church Music Association of America
in collaboration with Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
and the Church of the Epiphany in Miami, Florida
The Church Music Association of America will hold a conference exploring Charles Tournemire’s landmark L’Orgue Mystique on February 2-3, 2012 on the campus of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale and at the Church of the Epiphany in South Miami. The conference seeks to explore the aesthetic, liturgical, and compositional principles of L’Orgue Mystique, the implications of the work for modern compositions inspired by Gregorian chant, and the role of modern compositions and the organ in the Catholic liturgy.
The conference will include a Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Candlemas) featuring Tournemire’s office for the day from L’Orgue Mystique, a concert featuring selections from L’Orgue Mystique, as well as recital programs and papers relating to the conference theme. Papers presented will be considered for publication in a collection of essays following the conference.
The conference committee welcomes proposals for papers and recital programs. The call for papers may be viewed below or downloaded in a pdf file by clicking here: Call for Papers.
The deadline for proposals is September 2nd, 2011. Notification of acceptance will be given by September 15th, 2011.
Proposals must be submitted via email to Jennifer Donelson at: jd1120@nova.edu
For paper proposals (20 minutes plus 5 minutes for questions), please send an e-mail including:
1.Title and Abstract (250 word maximum)
2.Your name and affiliation
3.Your phone number and email address
4.Bio (250 word maximum)
For recital proposals (25 or 50 minutes in length), please send an e-mail including:
1.Selections to be included on the program (including title, composer, and length of each selection)
2.A 100 word abstract (for lecture recitals only)
3.Your name and affiliation, as well as the name and affiliation of each performer/ensemble
4.Your phone number and email address
5.Your bio (250 word maximum)
6.A brief bio of each performer/ensemble included in the recital program (100 word maximum)
7.One or two recordings in mp3 format which demonstrate a recent performance. The selections need not necessarily be recordings of the pieces proposed for the conference recital program. File size limit: 10 MB.
8.Performance space requirements (instrumentation, configuration, need for music stands and chairs, etc.)
Paper topics arising from the theme include, but are not limited to:
1.Compositional principles of L’Orgue Mystique or theoretical analyses of the work
2.Tournemire’s use and adaptation of Gregorian chant in L’Orgue Mystique
3.The works and styles of other composers that influenced the style, concept, or structure of L’Orgue Mystique
4.The influence of Tournemire’s work and style on other composers following the composition of L’Orgue Mystique
5.French liturgical praxis and organ-building principles that shaped L’Orgue Mystique
6.The influence of the work of the Benedictine Monastery at Solesmes on L’Orgue Mystique and other compositions from the late nineteenth century to today
7.The influence of Tra le Sollecitudini, other early twentieth century documents, and liturgical trends on the work of Tournemire, his contemporaries, or more recent compositions
8.The relationship between L’Orgue Mystique and Tournemire’s organ improvisations
9.The principles of chant-based compositions in the Catholic liturgy as modeled in the work of Tournemire, and
the future of chant-inspired compositions in the Catholic liturgy
10.The role of the organ in the Catholic liturgy as related to Tournemire’s work
11.The place of Charles Tournemire in the French symphonic tradition and the place of L’Orgue Mystique in the organ repertoire
12.The nature and qualities of sacred music in the Catholic liturgy as exhibited in L’Orgue Mystique and/or other chant-inspired compositions for the liturgy
Recital programs arising from the theme include, but are not limited to:
1.Performances of selections from L’Orgue Mystique
2.Organ improvisations on Gregorian chant or related to the French symphonic tradition
3.New compositions based on or inspired by Gregorian chant for use in the Catholic liturgy
4.Any combination of the above, or incorporating other complementary compositions and styles
5.Lecture recitals
Papers will be 20 minutes in length followed with a five-minute period for questions.
Recital programs may be either 25 or 50 minutes in length. Performances will take place at the Church of the Epiphany in South Miami. If submitting a recital program for compositions other than those for organ, recitalists must provide all performing personnel (e.g. choir, string ensemble, etc.) No piano, musical instruments (other than organ), or sound amplification will be available for the recitals, except for a microphone for the presenter speaking during the recital if requested. The organ at the Church of the Epiphany is a three-manual, 61-rank Ruffatti organ, the specifications of which may be found at: http://www.ruffatti.com/specs/epiphany.html.
The official language of the conference is English.
Presenters must register for the conference ($75) and will be responsible for their own expenses.
Questions regarding the conference may be directed to Jennifer Donelson via email or phone: jd1120@nova.edu or (954) 262-7610
The conference website is: www.musicasacra.com/tournemire
2011-2012 Children’s Choirs at Ave Maria Oratory
June 22, 2011
Thanks to the support of Fr. Robert Tatman and the wonderful participation in the Children’s Choirs at Ave Maria’s Oratory last year, a second season of the choirs will begin during the 2011-2012 school year.
These choirs are a wonderful opportunity for children to receive a foundational educational experience in music, rooted in the heart of the Church and her treasury of sacred music. The choirs employ the Ward method, a method developed in the 1920’s by Catholic convert, Mrs. Justine Ward. The method utilizes development of vocal technique, sight-reading, ear-training, improvisation, and movement to help children discover their singing voices and grow in musicianship.
The classes are fun and an excellent way to provide a curricularized approach to learning music, or to supplement or prepare for private music study. Also, these classes are very inexpensive when considering the amount of instructional time each student receives, especially when compared to private music study. More about the method can be found here: http://musicasacra.com/ward-method-instruction/ More information about the instructor, Dr. Jennifer Donelson, is available here: http://www.fcas.nova.edu/arts/pva_staff/index.cfm
The deadline for pre-registration with a $15 discount is July 15th. The standard registration deadline is August 24th.
In response to suggestions by parents and in an effort to continue the growth of the program, a few changes to the logistical features of the choirs for this upcoming year.
There will be three choirs this year, and students will be placed in them according to the character of each group:
St. Joseph Singers– Ages 5-8 – This choir is for those students who are new to the Ward methodclasses, or who have studied for one year and would benefit from furtherreinforcement of concepts learned before moving on to the next level.
Choir of Our Lady of the Angels – Ages 5-8 – This choir is for those students who have studied theWard method for one year and are ready to advance in the curriculum.
Schola Cantorum of Christ the Good Shepherd – Ages 8-12 – This choir is for those children whoare new to Ward method classes but are older, or for those children who havestudied the Ward method for one year and are ready to advance in thecurriculum.
It is of the utmost importance that children attend the Ward class and rehearsal every Wednesday at Donahue Academy. The schedule will be as follows:
5:00-5:30 – St. Joseph Singers
5:35-6:05 – Choir of Our Lady of the Angels
6:15-7:15 – Schola Cantorum of Christ the Good Shepherd
There is an audition for placement into the choir in which each child is best suited for his or her developmental level. This audition is not for admittance to the choir, but simply placement into the correct choir. All students who audition will be placed in one of the choirs.
Auditions will be held on Wednesday, August 24th from 5:00 to 6:15. Students planning to sing in the choirs must attend the audition. The audition will be preceded by a brief introduction to the Ward method. The first class will be on August 31st.
As with last year’s choirs, a minimum number of children enrolled for success of the program. If there is not a minimum number of children in each age range by the end of the pre-registration period, the classes will be cancelled for the year.
More detailed information about the classes and the tentative Mass schedule can be obtained by contacting the director, Dr. Jennifer Donelson, at jdonelso2000 (at) gmail (dot) com.
Musica Sacra Florida Registration Deadline Extended
March 19, 2011
The registration deadline for the 3rd annual Musica Sacra Florida Gregorian Chant conference has been extended to Monday, March 28th.
Registration and brochure available at: http://www.musicasacra.com/florida.
Musica Sacra Florida is pleased to announce that Dr William Mahrt, President of the CMAA and Editor of Sacred Music, will be keynote speaker at the 3rd annual Musica Sacra Florida Gregorian Chant Conference.
His Keynote Lecture will be on “Active Participation and Gregorian Chant”. Dr Mahrt will present a second lecture on “The Propers of the Mass as Integral to the Liturgy.” In addition, Dr Mahrt will be directing the conference’s Advanced Schola.
Do not miss this wonderful opportunity to hear this great scholar and sing under his direction! To register for the conference, go to: www.musicasacra.com/florida
Registration Deadline – Musica Sacra Florida
March 15, 2011
The 3rd Annual Musica Sacra Florida Conference is just around the corner and the registration deadline is quickly approaching!
The deadline for registration is Friday, March 18th.
This is a great opportunity to meet other chanters from Florida, study music for the new missal, attend sung vespers and Mass in the extraordinary form, or learn more about the Ward method. Or, if you aren’t able to take an entire week off for the colloquium or a chant intensive, the weekend conference presents the chance to study for a couple days with a fantastic set of faculty members, including Fr. Samuel Weber and Dr. Bill Mahrt, who will be directing the rehearsals of the advanced schola.
More info and registration form here: http://musicasacra.com/florida/
Children’s Choirs at Ave Maria – Sunday, February 27th
February 21, 2011
The children’s choirs of Ave Maria will sing for the 12:30 p.m. Mass in the extraordinary form this upcoming Sunday, February 27th. The children will sing Mass XV, Ave Maria (Gregorian antiphon), Panis Angelicus (Franck), and the inroit and gradual in simplified form. All are cordially invited to attend.
Vatican Splendors Exhibit – Museum of Art|Fort Lauderdale – A Concert of Sacred Music
February 7, 2011
A concert of Sacred Music
in conjunction with the Vatican Splendours exhibit
at the Museum of Art|Fort Lauderdale
Thursday, Feb. 17th
6:00 p.m.
Featuring:
The Bossa Nova Chorale of Nova Southeastern University and the Scholae Cantorum of Ss. Francisco y Clara Mission and St. Michael the Archangel church both of Miami under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Donelson
Repertoire includes:
Sicut cervus – Palestrina
Aurea Luce (The pre-Urban VII version of the vespers hymn for Ss. Peter and Paul)
Roma Petro glorietur (Sequence for Ss. P&P – Adam of St. Victor)
Alleluia Tu es Petrus (Mass for Ss. P&P)
And a collection of other Gregorian chants
Admission: Admission to the concert is free.
Admission to the Vatican Splendors Exhibit:
Tickets are timed entry and subject to availability at the time of purchase. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended. Tickets may be purchased at Tickemaster.com, Tickemaster outlets, or by calling 1-877-2VATICAN (1-877-282-8422). Tickets may also be purchased at the Museum of Art|Fort Lauderdale Box Office.
For details on pricing, click here.
MoA|FL Location:
One East Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
(954) 525-5500
For a map and directions, please click here.
The concert is free and open to the public. There will, however, be extremely limited seating available and limited space in the lobby to stand and listen to what will be about a 30-40 minute concert. If you are planning to come, please arrive early to ensure entrance to the performance space.