[Magdalen] Resurrections.

[Mahoney, W. Michael]

The organist at the National Basilica is Ronald Stolk.  I am told that he
is considered among the top organists in the country.  And I can vouch that
he can do marvels even with the old clunker of an organ that sits in our
local church.

Stolk is married to a member of our congregation.  He has been persuaded to
play here for a few, special occasions.

A real treat!

Mike M.

On Mon, Dec 25, 2017 at 2:18 PM, cantor03--- via Magdalen <
magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:

>
>
>
> I no longer drive in these mountains at night, especially in the winter
> (there was light
> snow after nine PM last night).  Instead I arranged for a Eucharistic
> minister to bring me
> my Christmas Communion this morning, and lounged in my chair in front of
> the blazing
> fireplace while I watched the choral concert and then Solemn Ponifical
> Mass from the
> USA National Basilica on Christmas Eve.
>
> I've  guessed for some time that the music and liturgy from that largest
> of the USA
> Roman Catholic churches is without parallel in the Roman Church in the USA
> at this
> time.  Where else can one find a fully professional choir of about 50
> voices, a chamber
> orchestra with brass sextet and the mammoth Wicks installation in the rear
> gallery?  The
> "competition" last night, for example was Saint Patrick's Cathedral, NYC,
> and the
> Papal Mass at Saint Peter's, Rome.  Musically, at least, there was no
> comparison.
>
> In any case the music was wonderful, and the Liturgy was very well done at
> the
> National Basilica (The National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception).
>
> There were the trends I noted from the Basilica this past Holy Week:
>
> (1) Resurrection of Sanctus bells; (2) Resurrection of the six servers
> (all boys)
> with torches for the consecration; (3) Resurrection of plainchant (the
> Ordinary was
> straight out of Liber Usualis). ; the chant was "plain" or embellished
> with organum
> and/or four part choral sections: (4) Resurrection of hymn arrangements and
> anthems out of the Oxford books.
>
> It was a nice Christmas Eve for an octogenarian who needs to remain at
> home
> after the traditional shrimp, scallops, and fish of late afternoon.
>
>
>
> David Strang - In the Poconos of Pennsylvania USA.
>
>
>