Author: Janet Gorbitz

Are you looking for an in-person training course for the summer? Consider studying chant with the monks at Clear Creek Abbey. Enjoy the peaceful surroundings, comfortable accommodations and wonderful welcome provided by the monks.

WHAT This is a first year course in Gregorian chant, taking the complete beginner or amateur in Gregorian chant to the level of being able to sing the chant with a certain competence.

Instruction will be offered in:

Reading Gregorian notation
Solfege
Latin pronunciation
Gregorian rhythm, musical and verbal
Chironomy (direction)
Modality
Analysis of a chant

For more information on the course, visit the Laus in Ecclesia website: lausinecclesia.com.

WHERE Classes will be held in the oratory of the old Monastery at Clear Creek. Address: 5810 W St Marthas Ln, Hulbert, OK, 74441. Click here for the directions and schedule. 

WHEN The classes will start at 1:15 pm on Monday, July 12, and continue throughout the days following until 12: 30 pm Saturday, July 17.

LODGING

For women:

Bethany, the ladies’ guesthouse
Martha’s cabin

At Bethany, the meals are served: $50 per night for room and meals

At St. Martha’s the occupants must bring their own meals and cook for themselves: $40 per night

For men: the men’s guesthouse at the abbey. Meals are provided: $50 per night for room and meals.

HOW MUCH

Laus 1 Instruction: $200

Laus 1 manual: $45

Lodging,

at Bethany: $50 per night, $200 for Monday night (7/12) thru Friday night (7/16)
at St. Martha’s: $40 per night, $160 for Monday night (7/12) thru Friday night (7/16)
at men’s guesthouse:$50 per night, $200 for Monday night (7/12) thru Friday night (7/16)

Payment can be made in advance either by check (made out to Clear Creek Abbey. Address: 5804 Monastery Road, Hulbert, OK, 74441) or through the abbey website or during the session, by cash, check or credit card.

Those attending the session will be expected to provide their own paper (notebook) and writing instruments. A ruler would be handy; ruled paper also, especially for those who plan to work on the assignments provided in the Laus 1 manual. Fr. Bachmann will be happy to correct assignments completed during the session—according to the time he disposes of.

PREREQUISITES No previous musical or Gregorian training is necessary. However, the applicant should be able to sing and carry a tune.

HOW MANY A maximum of 20 students will be accepted for this course on the basis of first-come, first-serve.

REGISTER ONLINE NOW

Announcing the 2021 Southeastern Sacred Music Workshop in Jasper, Georgia, August 20-21, 2021! Registration is now open.

The past year has been a challenge for all of us involved in church music. Many music programs have suffered losses of personnel and funding, and music directors are finding that the old ways of doing things just aren’t going to work for the future.

Some music directors are having to rebuild their program from the ground up, and the task seems daunting. We believe we have a way forward, and we’d really like to help.

This workshop will equip cantors, choir masters, choristers, and music directors with the tools they need to reinvigorate a stagnant music program by teaching them how to SING THE MASS. Using plainchant—in the vernacular or Latin—to sing the proper texts of the Mass creates stability in a parish music program. Chanted propers are the key to keeping music programs up and running even with unexpected challenges such as a pandemic. [Not sure what the propers are? Click to learn more.]

Likewise, polyphonic music is perfect for small groups of singers when choirs are limited in number. This workshop will introduce participants to polyphonic singing and organum. Everyone will have the opportunity to join a chant group of his or her choice—beginner/refresher or advanced—and/or a polyphonic small ensemble.

Don’t be intimidated. Those who are new to chant are highly encouraged to attend. This workshop is designed to accommodate all levels of proficiency in sacred music. Cantors especially will benefit from the break-out cantor sessions on Friday.

The event will culminate with a sung liturgy Saturday afternoon with the opportunity to sing a Sunday liturgy for those who would like to extend their stay in the beautiful Appalachian setting of Our Lady of the Mountains.

Breakout courses will be offered on a variety of topics of interest to music directors, singers, organists, and clergy.

The $80 registration fee will cover all materials as well as lunch on Saturday and coffee and snacks both days. The workshop begins at 1 p.m. on Friday and runs through 6 p.m. Saturday. Sunday is optional and includes sung Mass at 11 a.m.

Conference hotel information will be available shortly.

Please note:

At this time we are taking registrations only (no payments) so you can reserve your spot at the 2021 Sacred Music Workshop. Payment will be accepted online or by check between July 1 and July 31. By doing this we hope to avoid the need to refund money in the event the workshop must be canceled due to circumstances beyond our control. Registration/reservations are on a first-come basis.

Currently the number of attendees is capped at 50, but we are keeping a waiting list beyond that number in the hope that we’ll be able to accept more participants as the pandemic threat lessens.

Our Lady of the Mountains Church
1508 Waleska Hwy 108
Jasper, GA 30143
Parish website: https://olmjasper.com/

We hope to see you there!

For registration, information about faculty, and more, visit the website at: SOUTHEASTERN SACRED MUSIC

St. Joseph’s Seminary and College in Yonkers, New York is happy to announce this summer’s robust program, featuring eight graduate-level courses in sacred music and liturgy to be offered online during the summer 2021 session.

Download the brochure, with an FAQ and more information, here.

Apply here.

 

June 1–July 25 – Principles of Sacred Music
3 credits or audit, taught by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, 8 weeks asynchronous online + 2 days synchronous online via Zoom, July 26 and 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST

Through a survey of the history of sacred music and reading of Church and papal legislation on sacred music, students gain an understanding of the principles which shape Western sacred music and the musical structure of the Roman rite. Special focus is placed on current documents which govern music in the Church. The course also features in-depth discussion of practical issues including the formation and management of sacred music programs in parishes, active participation, progressive solemnity, the use of instruments in the sacred liturgy, resources available for music directors and choristers, and other relevant topics. 3 credits or audit.

June 1–July 13 – Introduction to Liturgy
3 credits or audit, taught by Fr. Nicholas Zientarski, synchronous via Zoom, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30–9:30 p.m. EST

This course will explore the theological, historical, and pastoral dimensions of the sacred liturgy. The history of the liturgy of the Roman rite, the role of ritual and symbol, the principles and norms articulated in the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, and the theology of the Liturgy of the Hours will be the foci of this course.

June 1–July 13 – Parish Sacred Music Program Management
1 credit or audit, taught by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, synchronous via Zoom, Tuesdays, 6:30–8:30 p.m. EST

Open to musicians and clergy from parishes of any size who are searching for inspiration and ideas as they work to expand or make changes to an existing sacred music program, this course presents best practices from model parishes and programs. Covering structures, personnel, budget, recruitment, fundraising, materials (hymnals, instruments, library, some aspects of repertoire, etc.), and other resources, the seminar aims to provide resources for parishes to consider how they might develop a program which is faithful to the mind and heart of the Church, as well as intimately linked to the nature and structure of the sacred liturgy. The ideas presented in the course afford the opportunity to plot a path forward for a parish in which the music program is both spiritually frutiful and economically sustainable, as well as invigorating for the worship, health, and life of a parish through beauty.

June 3–July 12 – Sacred Music History Seminar & Practicum: The Liturgical Movement & Sacred Music Renewal 1800–1950
2 credits or audit, taught by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, synchronous via Zoom, Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30–8:30 p.m. EST

Drawing on the rich writings of the Liturgical Movement and the intensive activity to renew sacred music during the 19th c. and first half of the 20th c., this seminar offers an in-depth study of historical documents, spiritual writings, and pieces from the Church’s treasury of sacred music. The knowledge gained from this study becomes a foundation for practice as we strive to enrich our prayer lives through theological meditations on important texts of the time as well as study musical repertoire that can be used in sacred music programs today. With an eye to choral program development and rehearsal technique, musicians will develop a working knowledge of important works from the treasury of sacred music from this era. This course is part of a five-part series, offered on a regular rotation, which focuses on different eras in sacred music history.

July 12–16 – Principles of Chant
3 credits or audit, taught by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, synchronous via Zoom, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST

Serving as an introduction to Gregorian chant, this course will cover neumatic notation, Gregorian modes, ear training and sight reading, vocal technique appropriate for singing chant, and Latin pronunciation. Special focus will be placed on rhythmic interpretation of the chant according to the classical Solesmes (Mocquereau) method. By the end of the class, students will have confidence singing from the Graduale Romanum, singing solfège and psalm tones, and some experience in conducting (chironomy). Additional topics introduced in the class include the history of Gregorian chant, rehearsal techniques for teaching chant to children and adult choirs, and an introduction to chant resources in English and Spanish.

July 19–23 – Advanced Seminar in Gregorian Chant
2 credits or audit, taught by Dr. William Mahrt (Stanford), synchronous via Zoom, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST

For students who have taken Principles of Chant or who sing Gregorian chant on a regular basis, this seminar presents advanced issues in the study of Gregorian chant. Focused on musical analysis for the study and singing of chant in the sacred liturgy, other topics include a study of the older neumes (semiology), important manuscripts for chant study, and an in-depth discussion of modes. Students will enrich their knowledge of the sung prayer of the Church through study which aims to bear fruit in conducting and teaching Gregorian chant to parish and school choirs.

July 28–30 – Medieval & Renaissance Music Notation Practicum
2 credits or audit, taught by Prof. Charles Weaver (Juilliard), synchronous via Zoom, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST

Working from original manuscripts, students will study different styles of notation from Late Medieval and Renaissance choral music, including Dasein notation, the notation of the Notre Dame School of Polyphony, Franconian notation, Ars Nova notation, and notation of Renaissance partbooks. With an eye to enabling students to make their own editions from original manuscripts, elements of applied music theory from the eras of the studied notations will inform student work.

August 2–6 – Teaching Gregorian Chant to Children
3 credits or audit, taught by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, synchronous via Zoom, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST

This 5-day intensive course will present pedagogical techniques for teaching Gregorian chant to children and is ideal for Catholic schoolteachers, directors and teachers of religious education, directors of children’s choirs, and parents. Special emphasis will be placed on the Ward Method, a comprehensive music education method designed to teach sacred music to children. Other topics addressed will include resources for teachers, other teaching approaches, and the logistics of developing a sacred music program for children.

Faculty
Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka (St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie)
Dr. William Mahrt (Stanford University)
Prof. Charles Weaver (Juilliard)
Fr. Nicholas Zientarski (St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie)

Tuition and Fees

50 % discount for 1st-time students or musicians in the St. Cecilia Academy for Pastoral Musicians.

The St. Cecilia Academy is open to all parish and school musicians who obtain a letter of support from their pastor.

Full price:
$500 to audit or
$500 per credit hour
(classes are either 2 or 3 credits)

All 2021 classes will be offered online via Zoom.

Registration Deadline:
Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Questions?
Contact Associate Dean,
Dr. Donna Eschenauer
Donna.Eschenauer@archny.org | 
(914) 367–8280

The International Center for Ward Method Studies at the B. T. Rome School of Music, Drama and Art at The Catholic University of America is pleased to announce that their annual summer courses will be offered in person for Summer 2021, June 21-25.

A limited number of scholarships are still available.

For more information about the program and registration, visit their website here: