MUS 413A/MUS 591A Liturgical Music at the University of Portland will be offered for the Fall Semester 2025.
Class time: Tuesdays 7:10-9:55 PM PST
Dates: August 26-December 9, 2025.
Instructor: Michael Prendergast, MTS, MA, Adjunct Professor, Sacred Music History.
This course is a study of Catholic liturgical music, including Church documents and liturgical books, music repertoire, liturgical performance, and historical context. It is designed to introduce the discipline of liturgical music, including historical styles, performance practices, Church documents, available resources, and liturgical music planning and preparation. Topics include, chant, psalmody, hymnody, music for the rites, the role of the cantor and the choir, schola and ensembles, litanies and service music the role of the organ in liturgy and music in an intercultural setting.
The course will also include guest lecturers from prominent pastoral musicians and experts in the field of liturgy and music. They will include Fr Virgil Funk, Melanie Coddington, Dr. Anne McGuire, Ken Canedo, Dr Glenn CJ Byer, Rufino Zaragosa, OSF, Dr. Lynn Trapp, Maureen Briare, Dr. Dolores Martinez, and Janèt Sullivan Whitaker.
Students can take MUS 413A/MUS 591A for 3 credits or audit. The course will be offered in a hybrid format, allowing students to attend in the classroom or join via Zoom.
Registration and Fees: Undergraduate students pay $5,520.00 for credit and $2,791.00 to audit. Graduate students pay $4,650.00 for credit and $2,325.00 to audit the class.
Please note that there are five $500.00 Scholarships available from Oregon Catholic Press and two $500.00 Scholarships from Sacred Liturgy Ministries. Please consider asking your parish/institution to sponsor some of your expenses.
To register for the class contact registrar@up.edu. Plan to register for this class no later than July 15, 2025. To request a scholarship or for more information contact Michael Prendergast via email prenderg@up.edu or by telephone 971-484-2022.