2016 Colloquium: St. Louis

June 20-26, 2016

Scores for works sung at the Colloquium liturgies can be found in the music book.

Monday, June 20

Before the official start of the Colloquium meeting in St. Louis, participants who arrived early began the week with an “organ crawl”, visiting the Old Cathedral and the Shrine of St. Joseph.

Later that day, the Colloquium began as usual with a reception and dinner, and some welcoming remarks:

This year the participants followed it by walking up 14th Street for a concert at the City Library by the professional early-music ensemble Pro-Arte Saint Louis, conducted by CMAA vice-president Horst Buchholz, director of sacred music at Saint Louis Cathedral. The works in the program were introduced by CMAA president William Mahrt.

Tuesday, June 21

The first plenary address of the Colloquium was “The Music of the Psalms”, a lecture by Professor Mahrt:

During her presentation on the Ward Method of music instruction, Colleen Crafton of the Ward Center in Richmond not only described the Method, she showed it with a choir of children who came in for the demonstration:

On the Memorial of St. Aloysius de Gonzaga, Rev. Jason J. Schumer, Director of Worship and Assistant Professor at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, celebrated the first Mass of the Colloquium week, at the Pro-Cathedral of St. John. Dr. Paul Weber was organist, and the Mass ordinary was from Mass of St. Francis by Dr. Buchholz:

Wednesday, June 22

Fr. Jason J. Schumer, professor at Kenrick Seminary, offered the second plenary address on “How the Liturgy Grows: Is ‘Organic Development’ Fantasy or Reality?”:

During the breakout presentations, Dr. Ann Labounsky of Duquesne University met with several participants at Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) for “An Introduction to Organ for Pianists”.

Later in the afternoon, on the Memorial of SS John Fisher and Thomas More, Fr. David Friel of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia offered Mass at the beautiful Shrine of St Joseph, a church saved and restored by a group of laymen when it had been slated for demolition: Deo Gratias! 

Thursday, June 23

On Thursday, Fr. William Morgan offered a Requiem Mass for deceased members of the CMAA, celebrated in the Extraordinary Form, once again at the beautiful Shrine of St Joseph.

After dinner, Vespers was celebrated at the Shrine for the Vigil of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, with Fr. Pasley officiating. Ann Labounsky was the organist and the Office choir directed by Scott Turkington sang the Psalms. After the Vespers, Compline followed immediately.

Friday, June 24

Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska presented the third plenary address, “A Foretaste of the Heavenly Liturgy”:

For the great feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, which often falls during the week of the Colloquium, Bishop Conley offered Mass in the Ordinary Form at the stunning Cathedral Basilica of St Louis. The music included Palestrina’s Missa Papae Marcelli, directed by Wilko Brouwers, and the organist was Dr. Buchholz.

Friday evening was completed with a recital at the Cathedral by concert organist Benton Blasingame:

Saturday, June 25

To complete the Colloquium, Fr. Pasley offered Mass in the Extraordinary Form for the Memorial of St. William, abbot. The Mass ordinary was from the Spatzenmesse (“Sparrow Mass”) by Mozart, with orchestra and chorus directed by Horst Buchholz. The organist was Jonathan Ryan.

Additional recordings

These recordings were made at some of the breakout sessions:

William Mahrt on the psalm tones:

Jeffrey Morse on teaching solfege:

Br. Mark Bachmann, OSB on the transmission of chant at Clear Creek Abbey as an oral tradition:

Thanks to Rene Zajner and Charles Cole for the use of their photos on this page.