Sept 2010 Pp. 20-23.Indd

A Celebration of Joe Hoppe’s Legacy at St. Patrick’s Church, New Orleans Marijim Thoene High school graduation, 1956 Notre Dame Seminary, 1967 concerts with the Saint Louis Cathedral M.T.: You have all the qualities I At St. Patrick’s Evening of Celebration, Choir under the direction of Elise Cam- think a man of the cloth should when Joe was honored for his 40 years bon and Father Stahl. have—compassion, a fi ne education, of service to the church and when he re- Joe at Evening of Celebration In August 1968 Msgr. John P. Reyn- integrity, reverence, a sense of hu- ceived the Alumnus of the Year Award from the University of New Orleans, olds hired him as the organist for St. Pat- mor. Are you glad that you chose to presented by his dear friend and de- Introduction rick’s Church, where, as Joe said, “There serve the church as a musician rath- partment chair, Dr. James Hammann Joe Hoppe has been organist and di- was no choir or cantor. I was the music er than as a priest, that you chose to rector of music for over 40 years at St. program!” Over time he recruited sing- follow “a road less traveled ?” Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in New ers, and had a choir of over 40 voices. In J.H.: Yes. After two years in the active Orleans, Louisiana, located in the busi- September 1990 he was accepted into ministry, I came to the realization that ness district at 734 Camp Street. This the master’s program at the University for personal and spiritual reasons, I had historic church, completed in 1840, is in of New Orleans, where he studied or- to make a change in my life. After much the Gothic style with a vaulted ceiling, gan with H. Gerald Aultman and choral prayer and consideration and consulta- massive hand-carved doors, and tower- conducting with Raymond Sprague. In tion with my spiritual director, together ing stained glass windows. Here the Ro- May 1993 he was awarded a Master of we came to the conclusion that I should man Mass continues to be celebrated in Music degree, which coincided with the request an indefi nite leave of absence Latin, and here Joe Hoppe developed 25th anniversary of his employment at from the archbishop. I made the request, one of the fi nest music programs in the St. Patrick’s. In September 2008 he was and it was granted in February 1968. In Archdiocese of New Orleans. He built honored at a banquet at the New Orleans August of that year, Msgr. John P. Reyn- a fi ne choir of volunteers, conducted Country Club and awarded a Waterford olds, who was well aware of my situation choral masterworks with full orchestra, crystal cross for 40 years of devoted and status, hired me as music director maintained the pipe organ, and in 2009 and dedicated service to St. Patrick’s and organist for St. Patrick’s Church. realized his dream of presenting the Church. Also at this banquet, James church with a new pipe organ, a magnifi - Hammann, chair of the music depart- M.T.: What led you to playing the or- cent instrument built by Patrick J. Mur- ment at the University of New Orleans, gan and directing choirs? phy and Associates, Opus 53. Joe Hoppe presented him with a “Distinguished J.H.: When I was 13, Sister Mary retired from St. Patrick’s in March 2010. Alumnus Certifi cate from the University Celia, SSND (School Sisters of Notre This interview is intended to celebrate of New Orleans Department of Music Dame), was the organist at Our Lady of his remarkable contributions to the for Forty Years of Distinguished Service Good Counsel Church and music teach- musical life of St. Patrick’s Church, the as Organist at St. Patrick’s Church, New er in the grammar school. I was studying community of New Orleans, and the Orleans, Louisiana.” piano with her, and she suggested that I lives of many international visitors, and Here is Joe Hoppe who, when asked should learn to play the organ. My par- to let you see some of the behind-the- by a bride how long it takes to learn to ents gave their consent, and she began scenes work of his remarkable tenure at play the organ, answered, with a twinkle to give me organ lessons on the 11-rank, St. Patrick’s Church St. Patrick’s. His music has touched the in his eye, “Oh, a couple of weeks!” two-manual Tellers-Kent pipe organ, ears and hearts of thousands. dated 1920, in the church. This was in 1968, there was no choir. I was hired Joe was born on February 13, 1938 in Marijim Thoene: My favorite photo of back in the days when Novenas and such only to play the organ, and once in a while New Orleans. He received a Bachelor you is as a young cleric. Knowing of things as evening May Devotions were maybe sing for a morning High Mass. Be- of Arts degree, majoring in philosophy, your remarkable education, I’m not very popular. As soon as I had learned tween 1968 and 1987 I would invite musi- from Notre Dame Seminary in June surprised that you should make that the very basics of the instrument, she cian friends to perform at the church for 1961. In 1964 he completed three and choice. When was this photo taken? had me learn one hymn at a time, and as big feast days such as Christmas Midnight a half years of postgraduate studies in Joe Hoppe: In 1967 I was assigned as I learned each one, she would have me Mass or on Easter Sunday morning, but theology, where he studied the theory an assistant to the pastor (now referred play it during the service. Then she had there was no organized music program. and practice of Gregorian chant with to as Parochial Vicar) at St. Angela Mer- me learn the accompaniment to the Lat- In 1987 I formed a male choir to sing an Father Robert Stahl, S.M., and sang ici Parish, and that is the photo that was in Masses that the school children sang all-Gregorian High Mass on Passion Sun- in the Notre Dame Seminary Schola printed on the weekly bulletin to intro- at the 8:00 am High Mass every morning day of that year. Then in May I formed Cantorum, which participated in joint duce me to the parishioners. of the week, and she would let me play a female choir to sing a High Mass in for these Masses. This was while I was honor of Mary. In September of that year, still in grammar school. When I was in these two groups combined to form what high school, I joined the church’s adult became known as St. Patrick’s Concert choir and sang with them. Choir. This continued until March 7, The Diapason When I was employed at St. Patrick’s 2010, when it was disbanded. 2011 Resource Directory • The only comprehensive directory of the organ and church music fi elds • Includes listings of associations, suppliers, and the products and services they provide Reserve advertising space now Deadline: November 1 To reserve advertising space, contact Jerome Butera 847/391-1045; [email protected] 20 THE DIAPASON Joe with founding choir members Rose Mary Tichenor, Jane Wilson, and Rene Toups, 1990 Joe at the organ for the “Farewell to the Möller” concert given in January 2009, the day before the Möller was dismantled for the new organ student body. Here I received my back- ground in Gregorian chant. Eventually I was able to conduct the student body at High Mass when chant was sung. We sang two or three High Masses a week, and the entire student body was able to sing all of 18 Masses in the Kyriale and the Gregorian chant Propers of the Mass in the Liber Usualis. It was from Father Stahl that I received my founda- tion in chant, and learned much about choral conducting. Dr. Elise Cambon, the organist at St. Louis Cathedral for 60 years, served on the faculty of Loyola Music School. I spent several semesters studying with her. She required hard work and dedica- tion, and any success that I may have enjoyed as an organist must be attributed to her instruction and example. Fr. Reynolds farewell, 2000 M.T.: What have you enjoyed the most in your career as a musician? and all the students sang; on Saturday J.H.: I have always enjoyed playing morning at 7 am individual classes were music, and playing for other people, ei- assigned on rotating schedule. During ther piano or organ. As long as I have Master of Music, University of New Or- the summer months, individual classes been at St. Patrick’s, whenever I played leans, 1993 were assigned to sing the 7 am Mass six days a week. In 1953, when I was 15 years old, the nun who was the church organist—and also my fi rst organ instructor—hired me to play for all the High Masses in June, Bumboub July, and August. I was thrilled when at the end of the summer I was paid $150 Dibqufs- for my services. The time I spent at Notre Dame was before the Vatican II changes went into effect. All the liturgies were in !!!!!!!!!BHP Latin. Even the philosophy courses had Latin textbooks. When I started the choir at St. Pat- rick’s, it was with men who volunteered Announces to sing a Latin Gregorian chant Mass for what in the old days was called Passion Sunday (two Sundays before Easter) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Uif Joe at home practice organ, 1998 1987.

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