Musica Sacra Colloquium, Day 7

The last day of the Colloquium was short, but full.  After breakfast, we gathered for one last group Morning Prayer, chanted antiphonally in Latin.

Morning Prayer in the hotel meeting room

 Then came final rehearsals for the  sections who were to lead the music at Mass  (or packing for the rest of us).  The morning culminated with Sunday Mass celebrated by Archbishop Tobin, Ordinary of the archdiocese of Indianapolis.  This was the parish's regular Sunday Mass, so we filled in amongst the congregation.  Today the Foundations  and Refresher sections sang the pieces they have been working on all week.

Novus Ordo altar,
Benedictine arrangement,
7th candle indicates the Archbishop is presiding

Archbishop Tobin

Collect

seated at the cathedra

Chanted Gospel and homily of Abp. Tobin

Liturgy of the Eucharist

We wrapped up with the Bruckner Ave Maria sung by all 240 Colloquium attendees.

Next year, the Colloquium will be held at Duquesne in Pittsburgh.  Put it on your calendar now!!

Musica Sacra Colloquium, Day 6

We have arrived at the last full day of the Colloquium. (I typed that as Cooloquium at first, and I'm thinking that it may not be a typo after all!)
Today's EF is a Solemn Requiem Mass, being offered for the deceased members of Musica Sacra.  Our polyphony section, under the direction of Horst Buchholz, has been preparing the 1583 Requiem Mass setting, Missa Pro Defunctis a 4 Voces by Tomas Luis de Victoria, all week long.

We were able to sing this Mass from the restored choir loft!  The various ensembles have been seated in different parts of the pro-cathedral for the various Masses, and the loft, by far, has given the best acoustics for singing (modernist construct or no, notwithstanding).

We actually had three rehearsals today: the first was the chant rehearsal for the Offertory Proper, which took place in one of the lower lobby meeting rooms.  Then, we walked the .8 mile to the church for the Bruckner Ave Maria rehearsal.  After a quick lunch break, our polyphony section reassembled in the loft for the final rehearsal of the Missa Pro Defunctis.

Bruckner rehearsal

When was the last time you heard that many men singing?

Bruckner rehearsal

View from the loft

If you look yo the right, you will see one of the side altars prepared for Low Mass.  At least two, and possibly three, Masses were offered at this altar during the course of our final rehearsal.

the organ pipes

the polyphony group begins to assemble in the choir loft

close-up of the ceiling

the cherubim were all along the upper walls -
this one was right by our pew in the choir loft

preparing the catafalque

Victoria final rehearsal

more loft

At 3pm, the hour of Divine Mercy, the Holy Sacrifice was offered.

Priest, deacon, and sub-deacon

the Gospel is chanted facing North

Women's refresher schola chants the Communion motet,
Justorum Anime by Lassus

commendation of the dead

Recessional

for Stephen: the original wooden pipes

looking down the spiral staircase from the choir loft

Completely unrelated, but I had to get one pic of the steaming manhole covers in the street:

Why, yes, I am from Florida, how did you know? ;)

Musica Sacra Colloquium, Day 5, continued

After all the beautiful chant, polyphony, and beauty of today's Mass, we topped off the evening with a rooftop party for the 50th anniversary of Musica Sacra, and enjoyed the city if Indianapolis' fireworks display for the 4th of July.

Musica Sacra Colloquium, Day 5

Happy Independence Day!

We are continuing our established pattern of chanted Morning Prayer, chant rehearsals in the morning and polyphony rehearsals in the afternoon.  Today was a votive Mass for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Our women's section chanted the Alleluia and verse.  Our polyphony group sang Christus Regem by Manuel de Sumaya after Communion.  Immediately after Mass, we had Benediction.  The noise of the afternoon secular July 4th activities outside the church was not able to detract from the beauty and splendor of our holy worship.

Introit

Gradual, Mahrt improv section

chanted Gospel from the high ambo 

Tomorrow, our polyphony section will get to sing from the loft!

Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament
There was a monstrance malfunction, so Jesus was 'displayed' from the ciborium.

Musica Sacra Colloquium, Day 4

 Today was a really full schedule.  Even the attendees who are probably one third my age were exhausted!   In addition to and following the afternoon OF Mass for St. Thomas the Apostle, we had sung Vespers in the extraordinary form, and finished the day with chanted Compline in the church, since we were already there.

circular stairway to the choir loft

Plenary talk by Dr. William Mahrt
I can hardly wait to read his book, 'The Musical Shape of the Liturgy'

Susan Treacy's breakout session on the early 20th century controversy over women's role in liturgical music

today's Mass, Latin OF,  for St. Thomas the Apostle

reverencing the altar

the Collect

incensing the altar

I had another one of those indescribable moments when the entire church chanted
 the Solemn tone Salve Regina.  It was like musical incense soaring heavenwards!

conducting the Vespers psalms

the psalms were chanted in alternatum

I have a few short videos which will not upload.  Perhaps technology will be kinder to me tomorrow.

waiting to transport our holy fathers back to the hotel

photo by Andrew Leung

photo by Adam Wright