The Recovering Choir Director

The Globe and Mail’s Eric Reguly has a profile on Quebeçois Fr. Pierre Paul (what a name!), the maestro of the Music Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica.

While he does put the “archconservative” label on Pope Benedict, his overview of the long tradition of male-only choirs at St. Peter’s – including that dubious development of the castrati is done with an even-handedness that belies the title that (presumably) his editors finalized. The article also mentions Fr. Paul’s predecessor Palestrina in passing, quotes Sacrosanctum Concilium regarding the value of sacred music, and highlights Fr. Paul’s own hectic schedule (being maestro di capella is his second job).

Read the whole thing. It’s heartening to see someone with the background of Fr. Paul working in a position with such visibility.