Cathedral Sounds ARCHDIOCESAN BOY CHOIR OF PHILADELPHIA Tom Windfelder, Director

When one enters a large cathedral and is fortunate enough to encounter live music, whether a sung liturgy or a concert, a certain quality of sound – a "Cathedral Sound" – can be the delight of the listener. This recording tries to emulate that experience.

All the great Cathedrals of Europe have had a resident boy choir or Schola Cantorum since the Middle Ages. With this recording we are trying to keep that wonderful tradition alive.

In the Kyrie, Gloria and Agnus Dei (tracks 1, 2 & 3) from the Missa Pastorale (Pastoral Mass), the Italian American composer Pietro A. Yon sets the Latin/Greek text of the Roman Catholic Mass to a simple blend of musical styles that were typical of church music heard in both Europe and other parts of the world at the beginning of the last century. This work, however, by the then young composer exhibits much more warmth and expression, innovative style and melodic sweep than most of the compositions of his contemporaries. The Mass, for boys’ voices, was written four years before his signature piece, Gesu Bambino, in 1917. By 1926, he was organist and choir director of St. Patrick Cathedral in New York, where he served until his death in 1943. He was no stranger to the shrine of St. John Neumann in Philadelphia.

The Tota Pulchra Es Maria is a re-release by the boy choir to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. This is also a re-mix, using the latest technology so that virtually all of the solo parts, and some of the chorus parts, are actually performed by the present choir membership. The addition of Cathedral organ also adds to this new interpretation. The original recording is from May 1995.

The Christmas and Easter tracks (tracks 5 thru 12) speak for themselves with their contrasts of sound, emotion and expression.

The classic Panis Angelicus by César Franck was chosen to celebrate the International Year Of The Eucharist (October 2004 – October 2005.)

The recording closes with a musical work that is never heard outside of Avila, Spain: the glorious and haunting hymn to St. Teresa (sung in the original Spanish) with music by Cristóbal Halffter. It is only due to the choir’s many visits to Spain that this rarely heard gem has become part of the boy choir repertoire.

Inspirational sounds provided by angelic voices: Cathedral Sounds.

 

Missa Pastorale   -  Pietro Alessandro Yon (1886-1943)
   c. 1913 Arranged, adapted, and edited by Tom Windfelder

1. Kyrie – Lord Have Mercy
 

2. Gloria – Glory to God in the Highest
 

3. Agnus Dei – Lamb of God
 

4. Tota Pulchra Es Maria - Tom Windfelder

In commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception

You are completely pure and immaculate, O Mary.
You are not stained by original sin.
You are the glory of Jerusalem and the joy of your people Israel.

You are the highest honor of our race.
O Mary, you are the advocate of poor sinners.
O Mary, pray for us.
 

5. AVE MARIA - Bach/Gounod

Intro Excerpt Tomás Luis de Victoria

6. Balulalow - Benjamin Britten

From "Ceremony of Carols"
Boy Choir Schola

Lullaby – Traditional Scottish
Oh my dear heart, young Jesus sweet,
Prepare thy cradle in my spirit,
And I shall rock thee to my heart,
And never more from thee depart.

And I shall praise thee ever more,
With songs sweet to thy glory.
The knees of my heart shall I bow;
And it is right to sing that lullaby,
Balulalow.

7. Resonet In Laudibus - German Melody 14th Century

From "Magnum Nomen Domini Emmanuel"
Anon., 14th Century
Boy Choir Schola

Resound in praise with joyful applause,
Break forth with joy, oh Zion,
For on this day appears the Child of Mary.

    Pueri Concinite - John R. Von Herbeck (1831-1877)

Translation:
Sing, Children! Sing with the harp in a gentle voice of the King’s birth. He has appeared who was born of Mary. All those things foretold by Gabriel are now fulfilled. Rejoice! Rejoice! The maiden has borne God, who wills us His divine mercy. He appears this day in Israel, born of the Virgin, Mary; the King is born. Alleluia!

8. Still Still Still - Traditional Austrian
            Boy Choir Schola Arr. Tom Windfelder

9. Cantate Domino - Tom Windfelder

Psalm 96 - Sing to the Lord a New Song…

10. Christus Factus Est - Tom Windfelder

Christ died for us - obedient unto death - even to death on the cross.
Therefore God has raised Him on high - and has given Him a name,
which is above all other names.

11. Regina Coeli - Gregor Aichinger (1564-1628)
            Rejoice, O Queen of Heaven Arr. Tom Windfelder

Rejoice, O Queen of Heaven! Alleluia!
He that thou did merit to bear
Has risen, just as He had said.
Pray for us to the Almighty God.
(Easter Anthem)

12. Victimae Paschali Laudes - Verses 1 to 3 - Chant

Sequence for Easter Mass Verses 4 to 7 - Tom Windfelder
Text, Wipo of Burgundy +1048 Verse 8 - Tomás Luis de Victoria T. 1611 of Avila

Assisted by the Alumni Choir

Chant - Praise to the victim of Easter; all Christians praise Him.
The Lamb has redeemed the sheep; Christ the innocent son has reconciled our sins to the Father. Death and life in a duel have fought a wondrous battle; Behold our Prince is no longer dead but lives and reigns.

Tell us Mary, What did you see on the way?
"I saw the tomb of the living Christ in Glory, I saw the Risen One."
The angels along with the burial clothes and linen bear witness.
O, risen Christ, I wait to see you in Galilee.
We know that Christ is truly risen. You are our noble and victorious king. Have Mercy on us. Alleluia.

13. Panis Angelicus - César Franck

Text, St. Thomas Aquinas +1274
The Bread of Angels has become the Bread of Mankind
 

14. Hymn to St. Teresa of Avila - Cristóbal Halffter

Hymno Officiál de Santa Teresa de Jesús

Teresa, you had the boldness to believe - deepen our faith,
Teresa, you walked the path of the Lord - make that love contagious,
Teresa, you showed mankind the truth - preserve us in peace,
Teresa, you discovered all knowledge of Christ - down to the very root,
Teach us that God is joy - and that only God will suffice.

You became holy while remaining a woman -
A friend of the Church, familiar with prayer and beauty.
The spark that set others on fire for God -
You live in Christ because Christ lives in You.

Teresa, Teresa, Teresa, deepen our faith.

 

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Recorded at

St. Mary Chapel, Villanova University
Immaculate Conception Church
Front and Allen Streets, Philadelphia
Radio Active Productions Studio

Remote and Studio Recording Engineer

Daoud Shaw - Tracks 1-9, 12, 13
edited and mixed at Radio Active Productions, Philadelphia

Remote Recording Engineer

Stephen George - Tracks 10, 11, 14

Producer

Tom Windfelder

Mastered by

Allan Tucker, at Foothill Digital, NY

Jacket Design and Layout

Phil Heinz, Heinz Graphic Services Inc.

Photography

Tom Windfelder, Teresa Zubert,
Mark Zubert

© 2004 Archdiocesan Boy Choir,
Philadelphia – All Rights Reserved

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Cathedral Sounds CD

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