Conference report Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians XXXI Washington, D.C., January 6–9, 2014 By Brian F. Gurley

he Conference of Roman Catholic Monsignor Walter Rossi, rector of the TCathedral Musicians (CRCCM) National Shrine, presiding; Monsignor met in Washington, D.C., January 6–9 Charles Antonicelli, vicar for canonical at the Basilica of the National Shrine of services of the Archdiocese of Wash- the Immaculate Conception (National ington, delivered the homily; and Peter Shrine) for its 31st annual gathering. Latona, Richard Fitzgerald, Benjamin Members of the National Shrine’s music LaPrairie, and the Choir of the National staff—Peter Latona, director of music; Shrine provided the liturgical music. Richard Fitzgerald, associate director Following evening prayer, participants of music; and Benjamin LaPrairie, assis- enjoyed refreshments and fellowship at tant director of music—designed and Monsignor Rossi’s welcome reception; directed the conference gathering with the CRCCM Statement of Purpose was help from the National Shrine’s sup- read aloud, after which the participants port staff. Assistance was also provided introduced themselves and described by the CRCCM steering committee: their work in their cathedral churches. Michael Batcho, director of music at The CRCCM welcomed new members the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, and first-time conference participants for Milwaukee; Marie Rubis Bauer, director 2014: Joseph Balistreri, director of the of music for the Archdiocese of Omaha office of worship for the Archdiocese of and at St. Cecilia Cathedral, Omaha; Detroit and co-director of music at the Anthony DiCello, director of music at Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains, Detroit; Robert Carr, director of music at Cincinnati; Donald Fellows, director of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, The Upper Church of the National Shrine (photo credit: Basilica of the National Shrine of the music at St. Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh; Spokane; Richard Fitzgerald, associate Immaculate Conception) Ezequiel Menéndez, director of music director of music at the National Shrine; at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford; McDowell Fogle, director of music and Must Pray, the Prayer Must Sing.” Father Institute. A gift of the Archdiocese of Christoph Tietze, director of music and principal organist at the Cathedral of St. Skeris shared reflections on the neces- Detroit, the institute is owned and oper- organist at the Cathedral of St. Mary John the Baptist, Savannah; Brian Gur- sary integration of musica sacra with the ated by the Knights of Columbus and is of the Assumption, San Francisco; Leo ley, director of music and organist at the Logos in the liturgy: “Chant and liturgy currently under renovation. Jem Sullivan, Nestor and Gerald Muller, advising. Cathedral of the Immaculate Concep- have one nature; they belong together director of research at the institute, led tion, Albany, New York; Stephen Hand- like belief and prayer.” Father Skeris cur- conference participants through several Monday, January 6 rigan, director of the Choir School of St. rently serves as director of the Center of exhibits, including a biographical exhibit Conference participants arrived in Michael Cathedral, Toronto, Canada; and Ward Method Studies at the Benjamin of the life of Blessed John Paul II, and Washington and were welcomed to the Mary Rooney of the Cathedral of St. John T. Rome School of Music at the Catho- an exhibit depicting the election of Pope National Shrine. They enjoyed open the Baptist, Savannah. lic University of America (CUA). From Francis and the process of the conclave. bench access to the gallery organs of the 1986 to 1989, he served as professor and The conference participants met at Upper Church, attended daily Mass in Tuesday, January 7 prefetto della casa at the Pontifical Insti- 12:15 p.m. for midday prayer with the the Crypt Church, and toured the basilica The day began with the Reverend tute of Sacred Music in Rome, Italy. Dominican Friars at the Dominican before the meeting officially opened with Robert A. Skeris presenting a lecture, After the lecture, the day continued House of Studies. Father James Junipero evening prayer in the Crypt Church, with “Laus Vocalis Necessaria: The Music with a tour of the Blessed John Paul II Moore, O.P., welcomed everyone in the chapel and explained some of the Domini- can traditions that were manifest in the lit- urgy. One example was that the alternatim practice of praying the psalms includes alternate standing and sitting. Standing represents preaching, while sitting repre- sents the reception of preaching. Following midday prayer, Father Moore conducted a brief concert sung by the Schola Cantorum of the Dominican Friars. Repertoire included the Domini- can hymn O spem miram (plainsong), Sancta et immaculata by Francisco Guer- rero, and Salvation Is Created by Pavel Tchesnokov. One of the singers in the schola is an expert in Church Slavonic, so the friars learned the text and sang it in the original language. Father Moore indi- cated that only two or three of the friars were music majors, and that they only rehearse for one hour per week. Lunch followed at the National Shrine. At 2 p.m., Father Moore gave a talk entitled “The Spiritual Life of the Musi- cian” in the Dominican Rosary Chapel of the National Shrine. Among the many exhortations he made to the conference participants, Father Moore encouraged everyone to maintain an active prayer life and to avoid the sins of pride and being underprepared. The afternoon continued with the first of two business meetings, during which Anthony DiCello presented the

20 n THE DIAPASON n MAY 2014 WWW.THEDIAPASON.COM evidence of Spanish Salve services, which were devoted to the Blessed Vir- gin Mary and resulted in a great number of settings of the Marian votive antiphon Salve Regina. Wagstaff encouraged the continued pursuit of this scholarship, since it presents an opportunity to help people appreciate historically important music that is intimately tied to Hispanic liturgical, musical, and cultural heritage. Johann Vexo, choir organist at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris, pre- sented a survey of sacred liturgical music at Notre Dame. He described Dominican Chant Schola — Fr. James Moore conducting (photo credit: Anthony J. DiCello) the responsibilities of the organists, the singing practices at cathedral liturgies, proposed schedules and locations of improvisations inspired by the stained Byrd, and Vierne (organ). Peter Latona and the Choir School. Later that eve- upcoming CRCCM gatherings. He glass windows of St. John’s Church. conducted the choir, and Benjamin ning, Vexo played a brilliant program of also described the duties and the rota- Following the recital, Benjamin Hutto, LaPrairie accompanied from the Crypt French masterworks on the organs of the tion process of the steering committee. organist and director of music ministry Church’s 1987 Schudi organ. Upper Church at the National Shrine; Marc Cerisier, organist of the Cathedral at St. John’s Church, welcomed CRCCM repertoire included music of Vierne, of the Immaculate Conception, Mem- conference participants and gave a brief Thursday, January 9 Franck, Dupré, and Duruflé. Prior to the phis, Tennessee, demonstrated updates tour of the 2009 Lively-Fulcher organ. Thursday morning began with the concert, Robert Grogan, carillonneur to the CRCCM website and reminded At 3 p.m., the conference par- second of two business meetings, held in and organist emeritus of the National everyone that service leaflets, compo- ticipants visited Washington National the chapel of the Theological College of Shrine, gave a prelude concert on the sitions, and other resources may be Cathedral (WNC). Director of music, CUA. Gerald Muller, director of music at carillon of the Knights of Columbus bell uploaded for sharing among CRCCM Canon Michael McCarthy, led a work- the Theological College (TC), described tower. Repertoire included carillon lit- members. DiCello presented his proj- shop, “Techniques for the Choral Con- the musical and liturgical formation erature and works arranged for carillon. ect of setting the collects of the Roman ductor,” in the lower chapel of WNC. of the seminary students. During the Conference participants enjoyed an Missal (3rd edition) to modern nota- McCarthy encouraged participants meeting, participants suggested possible elegant closing banquet at Johnny’s Half- tion. These documents are available for to maintain vocal health and to seek programs or scholarships that CRCCM Shell, located on North Capitol Street PDF download on the website of the periodic vocal instruction and coach- could fund and oversee. These would NW. Sincere gratitude and appreciation Athenaeum of Ohio (www.athenaeum. ing, which would strengthen their work be especially focused on the formation were extended to Peter Latona, Richard edu/liturgical-resources.aspx). with their own choirs. of future church musicians. Additional Fitzgerald, and Benjamin LaPrairie for Following the business meeting, At 5:15 p.m., Monsignor Rossi agenda items included the nomination hosting a very successful week. Richard Fitzgerald led a session on celebrated Mass and preached in the of CRCCM members to the steering The 2015 meeting of the CRCCM improvisation techniques on the South Crypt Church of the National Shrine, committee, as well as further discussion will take place in the Twin Cities of Gallery Organ of the National Shrine. during which prayers were offered for of possible locations for future confer- Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. It will Fitzgerald’s doctoral dissertation at the deceased members of the CRCCM. As ence meetings. be hosted by the Basilica of St. Mary Peabody Institute focused on impro- is custom, the CRCCM necrology was The business meeting was followed (Minneapolis) and the Cathedral of St. visation techniques; he shared original read during the Universal Prayer. Litur- by the composers’ reading session, also Paul (St. Paul) in conjunction with the musical examples as well as templates gical music (Lassus, Kyrie from Missa held in the TC Chapel. Participants Cathedral Ministries Convention. ■ from organ literature, which can provide Quinti toni; Clemens non Papa, Magi were joined by members of the Choir the basis for improvisation in liturgy. viderunt stellam; Friedell, Song of Mary) of the National Shrine to read through Brian F. Gurley, a native of Pittsburgh, Workshop participants included Ricardo was provided by Peter Latona, Richard new compositions. Pennsylvania, is director of music and Ramirez, director of music and organist Fitzgerald, Benjamin LaPrairie, and the Later Thursday morning, Grayson organist at the Cathedral of the Immacu- at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, Illi- Choir of the National Shrine. Wagstaff, professor of music, director of late Conception in Albany, New York. nois, Joseph Balistreri, and Brian Gurley. Following Mass, the Choir of the the Latin American Music Center, and He holds degrees in organ, sacred music, Conference participants enjoyed fellow- National Shrine presented a concert enti- dean of the Benjamin T. Rome School and choral conducting from Grove City ship at the Washington Court Hotel lobby tled “Moveable Feasts: Sacred Music for of Music at CUA, gave a lecture-presen- College (Pennsylvania), the University and bar and found dinner on their own. the Church Year.” The program included tation on the influence of the Spanish of Notre Dame, and the University of the Epiphany Proclamation for 2014, Renaissance on the sacred music of the Wisconsin-Madison, and is currently a Wednesday, January 8 with repertoire selected for each feast. New World. Wagstaff surveyed the lat- candidate for the degree Doctor of Musi- The first event of the morning was a Repertoire included works by Whitacre, est scholarship on the topic, which has cal Arts in choral conducting (minor in lecture-presentation by Bertrand Cat- Dove, Palestrina, Lukaszewski, L’héritier, attracted the attention of many musi- organ performance) at the University of tiaux, organ builder and Curator of Allegri, Stanford, Mendelssohn, Harris, cologists in recent years. He discussed Wisconsin-Madison. Organs at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, France. Cattiaux surveyed six centuries of French organ building, incorporating audio and visual examples in his thorough presentation. The morning continued with a lecture given by the Reverend Monsignor Kevin Irwin, entitled “What We Have Done and What We Have Failed To Do,” focusing on state of liturgical and musical reforms since the Second Vatican Coun- cil. Monsignor Irwin invited his audience to consider whether or not the liturgical music prepared in their cathedrals fits the liturgy of the Roman Rite. He proposed a reexamination of repertoires consisting primarily of Protestant hymnody—which tend to be didactic in nature—at the expense of the proper antiphons of the Gradual. Monsignor Irwin is a priest of the Archdiocese of New York and served as dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic Univer- sity of America from 2005–2011. He cur- rently holds the Walter J. Schmitz Chair of Liturgical Studies. His latest book, What We Have Done and What We Have Failed To Do (2014), assesses the liturgi- cal reforms of Vatican II and is available through Paulist Press. At 12:15 p.m., Richard Fitzgerald presented a lunchtime organ recital at St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square. Fitzgerald’s program consisted of varied

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