The Recovering Choir Director

Just in time for the gift-giving holiday of…Epiphany, members of Juventutem Australia have just issued a CD of selected Gregorian chants, motets, and organ pieces that were employed during last summer’s World Youth Day and affiliated events leading up to it.  At the time of this post, it is priced at $18.99 USD on CafePress.

The track listing is as follows:

1. Introit: Gaudeamus (Chant)
2. Kyrie: Cum Jubilo (Chant)
3. Offertorium (Chant)
4. Agnus Dei (Chant)
5. Recessional (Help of Christians)
6. Ave Maria (Victoria)
7. Ave Maris Stella
8. Organ Improvisation by Juventutem Organist
9. Ave Verum (Byrd)
10. Magnificat alt. Polyphony
11. Tantum Ergo
12. Introit (Nos Autem) (Chant)
13. Kyrie: Missa Brevis (Palestrina)
14. Christus Factus (Anerio/Handl)
15. Sanctus: Missa Brevis (Palestrina)
16. Benedictus: Missa Brevis
17. Communio: Per Signum Crucis
18. Motet: Anima Christi (Hymn)
19. Organ Postlude by Juventutem Organist
20. Kyrie: (Cunctipotens) (Chant) by Juventutem Schola
21. Offertorium (Chant) by Juventutem Schola
22. Sanctus (Chant) by Juventutem Schola
23. Organ Postlude by Juventutem Organist
24. Christus Vincit (Chant/Organum)

Not the most descriptive track listing ever created, so let me attempt to give a bit more information on some of the tracks.

• Tracks 7-11 were recorded at the Pontifical Vespers and Benediction celebrated by George Cardinal Pell (an image from this liturgy is featured on the CD jewel case cover). From my place in the choir loft, the congregation joined rather strongly in the singing of the Ave Maris Stella (track 7).
• Tracks 12-19 were recorded at the Solemn Pontifical Votive Mass of the Holy Cross, celebrated on Friday, July 18, 2008. You may listen a rough recording of the Anerio motet (featured on track 14) here. (This, for me, remains the definitive interpretation after listening to the different renditions of this motet found on YouTube. It also helps matters that we’re facing the altar rather than an audience.)

In the Benedictus trio of the Palestrina Missa Brevis on track 16, I sing the tenor line…for better or for worse. I think it came out well enough; however, I haven’t listened to this CD — in fact, I just ordered copies for family, friends, and myself in the hope that it did.

I’ll provide a brief review of the CD next month…probably by Epiphany.

Update: Chris Steward, who played an instrumental role in the organization of Juventutem Australia, informs me that the CD is meant to be “a record of the Juventutem liturgies and to help raise funds for youth communities in Australia. It is not only directed at Juventutem pilgrims and people who were actually there but also for those who couldn’t make the trip to Australia.”

(Courtesy of Australia Incognita.)