National Catholic Youth Choir video!

Here is a lovely promo video of the National Catholic Youth Choir. Calling all Catholic high-schoolers going into grades 10, 11, and 12. Camp next summer is June 14 – 28. Application form here. Spread the word!

The kids are singing Palestrina here, “Ego sum panis vivus” (“I am the living bread”), under the masterful conducting of voice care expert Dr. Axel Theimer of the music faculty and the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. Program director is awr.

I think this is hilarious – my friend Jeffrey Tucker over at Chant Cafe beat out Pray Tell on this news scoop by about five hours! (Audrey and Dorothy – next time give me some lead time. You’re too diligent and efficient in getting the word out to others.)

awr

Anthony Ruff, OSB

Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, is a monk of St. John's Abbey. He teaches liturgy, liturgical music, and Gregorian chant at St. John's University School of Theology-Seminary. He is widely published and frequently presents across the country on liturgy and music. He is the author of Sacred Music and Liturgical Reform: Treasures and Transformations, and of Responsorial Psalms for Weekday Mass: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter. He does priestly ministry at the neighboring community of Benedictine sisters in St. Joseph.

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Comments

10 responses to “National Catholic Youth Choir video!”

  1. Mark Thompson

    How can a congregation be expected to participate in this, or even make out the words? Since “full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else,” and everything “should be within the people’s powers of comprehension, and normally should not require much explanation,” are these not the brutal strains of an oppressive exclusionism?

    Reply
    1. Anthony Ruff, OSB Avatar
      Anthony Ruff, OSB

      Hmm, Mark Thompson – you’re ‘foes’ are donig things you support, so you’re attacking them for it? Your way of building bridges and and making allies probably isn’t helping your cause.
      awr

      Reply
      1. Mark Thompson

        Sorry, just trying to fit in with the “tone” around here. My apologies if I’ve misunderstood it. Being quite familiar with your commenters like X. Rindfleisch and J. Stevens, my first thought here was to say “you’re foes!?!?! Call Vox Clara, we have another English ‘expert’ on our hands!!!!! What a howler!!!!!”

        But now you’re saying you don’t want commenters to take a poisonous, gleefully sarcastic tone? I must be missing something.

      2. Anthony Ruff, OSB Avatar
        Anthony Ruff, OSB

        Mark,

        MY apologies – apparently I totally misunderstood you. Sorry about that.

        Next time trying grinning more broadly as you hit “submit.”

        Pax,

        awr

  2. Cody C. Unterseher

    Mark,

    I’m really sorry you feel this way.

    NYCY provides youth an opportunity to develop ensemble skills both in liturgical musical leadership and in performance of choral repertoire of a sacred nature. During their summer camp they not only sing for liturgies but also perform a number of sacred concerts on a mini-tour.

    Over the years, I’ve attended many of the liturgies for which they sing. I’ve never once felt that their choral selections are exclusionary, nor have I failed to be appropriately engaged in “full, active, conscious participation” — which includes singing together and in dialogue with the choir and, at times, making what Kenneth Stevenson has called the “sacrifice of attention,” that sort of attentive, contemplative listening that is also part of worship.

    Reply
    1. Ren Aguila

      The “sacrifice of attention” is one idea I encountered in Stevenson’s writings on sacrifice in the Eucharist. I think it requires more unpacking in the light of the discussions that sometimes take place among liturgists over the nature of participation in the liturgy.

      Behind the “sacrifice of attention” I suspect lies a long tradition of taking part in liturgies, like cathedral evensong, in which participation in the sense that we have to *do* or sing or say something *all the time* is not necessarily part of what takes place. I am saddened that “full, active, conscious participation” has been reduced to something that has turned the liturgy into a wordy mess. Attentive, contemplative listening is lost as a result.

      Having said that, encouraging children to sing, and sing well, is really a good entry into that “sacrifice of attention.” From both vicarious and actual experience, attentiveness to the other is necessary in choral singing. It may very well be hoped it could foster attentiveness to the Other.

      Reply
  3. Fr. Allan J. McDonald

    I suspect Mark’s comments were tongue in cheek, certainly he wasn’t being serious. The singing is beautiful and Fr. Anthony to be applauded for this grand effort. If we could duplicate it in our local parishes with our young people I doubt that we would have so many finding the Mass mundane and boring and that includes us older people.

    Reply
  4. David Haas

    Fr. Anthony, Axel and everyone who is a part of this should be extremely proud…what a marvelous contribution to the singing and praying church. Bravo..

    Reply
  5. Donna Eschenauer

    Participating in choir is one of the best ways for young people to acquire an appreciation for good liturgy. I vividly remember singing in choir as a young child, and the privilege it was. I do believe that experience, so many years ago, was the beginning of my love for liturgy. The hymns themselves offer sound theology.

    The promo is terrific! For the few minutes that I viewed it, I certainly was engaged in prayer.
    Thank you Fr. Anthony

    Reply
  6. Bill deHaas

    Paul – if this is the same Lynn Trapp and my brain is not completely atrophied, say hi for me. He was our musical director, teacher, and mentor at St. Mary’s of the Barrens, Perryville, MO in the early 1980’s before leaving to pursue advanced degrees. He was excellent with the students; good teacher/mentor, really impassioned them.

    Coincidentally, he worked on liturgy/music with myself as formation director and the other college formation director, Vincentian priest, Louis Brusatti, CM who used to spend summers covering for Fr. Ron Krisman when he was pastor of a parish in Lubbock, Texas. Small world.

    Sure Lynn can tell you stories that will rival your experience with Vincentians at St. John’s, Camarillo, CA.

    Reply

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