The following comes from an Apr. 16 email from Jade Music.
On the evening of Sunday May 4, the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado, California join the world-renown American organist Paul Jacobs, Chair of the Organ Department at Julliard School of Music, in the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (https://tinyurl.com/ptzj84l).
The Norbertines add their expertise in plainsong to the Clavierubung III of Bach which is a based on the melodies of the chorales sung at the Lutheran Missa Brevis service. Many of these melodies have their origins in plainchant. The abbey community of St. Michael’s is honored to bring the beauty of vocal church music back to the general public. Fr. Chrysostom Baer, O.Praem. leads the Norbertines as the abbey’s principal cantor.
The Norbertines and Professor Jacobs last performed together in 2011 for the Cathedral of Sound series at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts under music director Carl St. Clair.
Since 2008, the Norbertines have released four chant albums on Jade Music: Christmas at St. Michaels, Gregorian Chant: Requiem, Anthology: Chants and Polyphony, and Gregorian Chant. The albums are distirbuted through ADA/ Warner Music International.
….This evening the Norbertines join Paul Jacobs for the Clavierubung III of Bach. This collection of compositions for the organ is based on the melodies of the chorales sung at the Lutheran Missa Brevis service and the Lutheran catechism. Many of these melodies have their origins in plainchant. Paul asked his talented Norbertine friends to join him because he knew they could best present the spiritual dimensions of the work which Bach intended when he composed the pieces.
The collection is started by an extensive prelude and closes with a triple fugue; this prelude and fugue are sometimes excerpted and played as a unit, referred to in English speaking countries as the “St. Anne” because of the fugue subject’s resemblance to the hymn melody of the same name.
To learn more about the Norbertines of St. Michael’s Abbey go to: www.StMichaelsAbbey.com
Does anyone know if this is being recorded and distributed by CD or iTunes? It sounds like it would be amazing!
The Norbertine fathers are a great blessing for Southern California. Best success in this important concert.
Gratias I agree they are a blessing. Praise God that they can reach out to others through their chant.
Norbertines at Disneyland? Silly men. I wonder how much they are being paid?
Sacred music is supposed to be played or performed in church during sacred services. Keep in mind that we have no evidence that “sacred” music was sung at the Last Supper or during Christ’s ministry.
Instead of going to Disneyland, would the entire Norbertine chorus meet us at Planned Parenthood in orange County and protest, even in plainchant?
The concert is not at Disneyland, so who is silly?
As Gratias said, the Norbertines are a great blessing for Southern California, and it’s a shame you don’t recognize that.
Linda, good job proving yet again that CCD is full of reactionaries opposed to every hint of reaching out beyond the 16th century. I have never EVER heard someone say that since there was no record of sacred music at the Last Supper that we should have none either. Even dry Methodists don’t hold that! And your assumption that Disney Hall is at Disneyland – wow.
Sorry, meant Christina. Reactionary Christina.
Christina, in spite of any controversy as to whether or not it is wise to perform at the Disney Concert Hall, Psalms were always sung on Jewish holy days, especially the Passover, and that was what the Lord and his Apostles were celebrating at the time the Lord replaced Passover with the Holy Eucharist. The New Testament mentions the Apostles and disciples singing Psalms in various places in the New Testament, so there is no reason to assume that they did not keep tradition and sing Psalms. Also, I have heard only good about the Norbertines. May God bless and keep them.
And I have no idea where the Disney Concert Hall is located or who runs it, so I have nothing to say on whether the hall is a good place or not.
Disney Concert Hall is in Downtown Los Angeles. Lillian Disney, the widow of Walt Disney, donated 50 million dollars for the project. Other donors include other Disney family members, the Walt Disney Company, and numerous other private donors. The Disney Concert Hall is the fourth Hall of the Los Angeles Music Center.
The Disney Hall has a distinctive 6,125 pipe organ.
Then, Anne T, you should have looked it up and saved Tracy the need to write a comment. Disney Hall is a concert hall that is used for the Philharmonic and other great music events.
Why should I have looked it up as I was writing, Bob One. I really do not care. I do not buy Disney Products any more for my grandchildren, but that is for other reasons. I would rather put my money into other things for them. I won’t be attending this concert, but I might buy some of the Norbertines CDs, etc. in the future. I do not know. I was merely writing to tell her about the Psalms being sung on Jewish holy days.
I am sorry, Bob, I realize now that you meant that I should have looked it up as a courtesy, but I was coming from the perspective that I did not want to get into any controversy about the hall one way or another, and I did not have a lot of time as I try to stay off the computer as much possible. Quite frankly, I am much happier when it breaks down.
Downtown, across the street from the Cathedral or Our Lady of the Angels. Both edifices have outstanding acoustics.
Whether it is Disneyland or Disney Concert Hall, makes no difference here. The Norbertines are being paid to sing their sacred music in a non-sacred setting.
If Christ and the disciples sang Psalms, for sure it was in a faith-based setting, not an entertainment hall—–and they were not being paid to sing.
Will the Norbertines make an announcement that their singing is for the glorification of Christ, our Savior? I hope so.
I’m glad that they are singing in an secular setting, we need to show our support to tell the secular that people want good and wholesome things instead of their normal secular stuff. God bless the Norberines and may they reach out to many who will seek them and that seeking them, will help open the hearts of many and lead them to the many beautiful truths from within our church in union with Rome!