FSC Recordings

I was asked tonight about where one can find recordings of the FSC's music. Well, at this point, we haven't come out with a complete "album" or disc, however, we do have some video of acceptable quality from a few past concerts, as well as some more polished recordings on our website.

For the audio-only recordings, you can click here. This was recorded by John and put together by our choir director.

Just about all of our video is on a Youtube page managed by our alto/soprano, Mihoko. I'll link to each one individually for ease of access:

Eglise de la Madeleine concert -- March 29, 2011 -- Paris, France

Kyrie, Missa Brevis, Palestrina

Gloria, Missa Brevis, Palestrina

Sanctus/Benedictus, Missa Brevis, Palestrina

Agnus Dei, Missa Brevis, Palestrina

Sonata in C, Jean-Baptiste Loeillet (Oboe solo by John Netardus)

Qui confidunt in Domino, mode VIII

Lutum fecit, mode VI

Dextera Domini, G.B. Martini

O Salutaris hostia, Kevin Allen

Domine, non sum dignus, Kevin Allen

Super flumina Babylonis, Palestrina

Ave Maria, Saint-Saëns

Vidit suum, Stabat Mater, Pergolesi

Terra tremuit, Byrd

Stetit Iesus, Jacobus Gallo

(Under construction... Check back soon.)

Chant, the "Supreme Model" for Sacred Music

May 26, 2011 marked the 100th anniversary of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music, upon which occasion His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI issued a statement declaring Gregorian chant to be the "supreme model of sacred music".

While the notion of chant as being the "supreme model" for sacred music has deep implications in a Church striving to re-establish its identity, it also has implications for the very performance of chant, particularly in the context of the Florida Schola Cantorum.

Gregorian chant has always been the very backbone of the Florida Schola Cantorum's approach to sacred polyphony. It is not merely a side-act; it is the main attraction--a passion of which we are quite proud. To immerse oneself in the performance of chant is to go the heart of music, leaving behind rigid modern notions of tonality and rhythm and bringing forth music from whence the ancients believed it to derive its origins: the soul.

Indeed, recalling that Gregorian chant is fundamentally an oral tradition liberates one from the sense that music is merely notes--or, in our case neumes--on a page and leads us elsewhere, to the words of the prayers which are, ultimately, the whole reason the music exists, as well as to the poetic ebb and flow of those words. The music can not exist independently of the words as mere melody. The words benefit from a profound dimension of expression which the chant lends to them. As such, the performance of chant is both a profound expression of prayer and a powerful illustration of music in its most fundamental and pure nature.

More on Pope Benedict's statement on chant: http://calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=07b05703-bc85-40f0-8f8f-34a2341a1b80

Recollections of Paris - Part I

It has been a bit over a month since the FSC spent a wonderful week in Paris, France for the Rencontres grégoriennes, sponsored by the Choeur grégorien de Paris, and what a week it was. Being a part of such a small group in a relatively rural area, you get the impression sometimes that there's not much out there. However, getting to sing the Divine Office in the company of 10-plus choirs from all across Europe in the most beautiful churches in Paris gave a whole new perspective and depth to our experience of chant.

I've picked out a few photos from our experience for your viewing pleasure. I might also add that we now have a few sample recordings on our website, for which there's a link right under the header picture.

For today, some photos from our Sunday solemn vespers at the stunning Eglise Saint-Louis-en-Ile.

-- The high altar of St.-Louis-en-Ile lit up for Solemn Vespers.

-- Left to right, Anthony, Mark and John in their robes for vespers.

-- 2nd from the left, Grace. 2nd from the right, Cerise. Having a chat with Bernard Deheeger, organizer of the Le Festival de Watou, a major chant conference in Watou, Belgium.

-- Dr. Schaefer in his robes.

-- High altar

Welcome Bishop Felipe de Jesus Estevez

Yesterday, April 27, Pope Benedict XVI named the successor to the Diocese of St. Augustine's Bishop Galeone: auxiliary bishop of Miami Felípe de Jesús Estévez. And so you ask, what does this have to do with the music of the Florida Schola Cantorum?

Well, it's true, our primary venue isn't even in the Diocese of St. Augustine; we're down in the Diocese of Orlando. That said, our base, i.e., the place where live and rehearse, is Gainesville, which is in His Excellency Jesús Estévez's new diocese. And there's no question some of our members have been itching for a place up in Gainesville where we could sing, even if only from time to time--a proposition to which His Excellency will likely be a bit more amenable than his predecessor, given Pope Benedict's marked tendency to appoint Extraordinary Form-friendly bishops. Well, a lot of this is up in the air right now but we'll see. As the FSC has observed, you can certainly do a decent Ordinary Form Mass with chant and polyphony--we did one in Jacksonville not 1.5 months ago--however, we're a bit cozier in the EF, given that has been chant's home for hundreds of years.

With a new venue in Gainesville--hey, I'm just dreaming--then we'd be able to spread knowledge and appreciation of chant to a wider area, in this case North Florida. When you've got such good things going on with chant and sacred polyphony, all you want to do is spread the goodness around! On that note, we'll keep the goodies coming with a three-part Mass setting by Lotti this coming Low Sunday. It'll "just" be the guys this weekend.

Don't forget to whip out your copy of Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in honor of "Quasimodo Sunday"! Speaking of Quasimodo Sunday, if anyone can figure out what the first line of the introit really means, that'd be great. "As newborn babes desire the rational milk without guile, alleluia..."

Before there was 2% and skim, there was Rational milk!

Happy Easter from the FSC

Happy Easter, everyone!

It was truly a very happy Easter vigil for the Schola. The 4 pm Easter vigil Mass at Queen of Peace saw perhaps its highest attendance ever--a sound estimate put the numbers at 400--and it appears to have outdone the Ordinary Form Mass at 8 pm! We had the opportunity to perform Haydn's Kleine Orgelmesse (Little Organ Mass) for the second year in a row, which was certainly a great joy. Musically, this Easter vigil was quite the treat for the parishioners, not just because we performed the lovely Haydn Mass, but because the Priestly Fraternity permitted John, our bass singer, to perform a beautiful Loeillet piece on his oboe during communion. As such, the FSC once again demonstrated its diversity of talent and adaptability, delving into both instrumental and, in this case, classical period repertoire.

I dare not forget Father Remski's commenting in his sermon that the FSC is the best Extraordinary Form choir in Florida. We were thinking more along the lines of the Southeast but, hey, we're grateful for the accolade. Look out Tallis Scholars!

Well, with Easter Mass now done and the university school year wrapping up, the Schola's pace will also begin to wind down as a number of our members go home for the summer. Given the diminished numbers, summer tends to be a time to focus on less ambitious (but nonetheless lovely) polyphonic works as well to hone in on our chant execution. Happy summer to our singers going home for vacation!

And a very happy and blessed Easter to all!

The FSC enters the blogosphere!

At last, our loyal followers can keep us with our goings-on in the blogosphere. The Schola has been pretty busy these last several weeks and we have made our presence known on the international stage with a whirlwind trip to Paris, France the last week of March. With Triduum upon us, we have been hastily preparing for the Easter Vigil at Queen of Peace, which is sure to be a lovely Mass. Stay tuned for more.

For now, here's a sampling of some bits of our repertoire from our recent trip to Paris. We had a lovely performance at the renowned Eglise de la Madeleine (Paris 8) on Tuesday, March 29 which our very own Mihoko so kindly recorded for us.

Enjoy!

Gregorian chant:

Lutum Fecit - Mode VI

Sacred polyphony:

Super Flúmina Babylónis - G.P. da Palestrina