Fan of Organ/Choir music needs help

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MontereyMatt

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Hello all -

This is my very first post on the Catholic Answers forums, which I am glad to have discovered. There will be many more posts in the future, I can assure you, as I have lots of questions! But, for my first one, I chose a question from the “easy” list: does anyone know where I could find recordings for sale of Catholic hymns (i.e. ‘On Eagle’s Wings’) performed by an organist and a choir? I realize this is an odd request, but there are so many hymns out there that I love. What’s frustrating is that I can only find them on CDs in a piano/guitar/solo vocalist format, or some other scaled-down arrangement. While this is not a bad thing, I think hymns reach the pinnacle of their beauty when they are performed by an organist and a full choir, and any other additional symphonic elements. Anyone know if there are such CDs available? I have searched the internet thoroughly, but without much success thus far. Thanks for the help! By the way, I am aware of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but that leads into a whole other question about if it is okay for a Catholic to buy music from them, and in doing so, support their cause financially. (A fellow Catholic once advised me not to do so.) I am looking for CDs by other choirs, if possible.
 
First, welcome Matt! Glad to have you here. I think I might be able to help you with your request. I have had a lifelong interest in choral music particularly when combined with organ and brass. I also had the honor of singing in a cathedral choir for over 18 years (unfortunately the CD we cut is no longer available).

While the concept of “On Eagle’s Wings” with organ and choir might seem to be a good thing, we’ve sung it before for diocesan events and it does not translate very well. In fact, the majority of the hymns in “Glory and Praise” or “Gather” when played on a full organ with choir sound…“off”? But, take heart! Amazon.com is full of wonderful choral and organ music. For really rousing renditions of traditional Catholic hymns, I would recommend the album entitled “Faith of Our Fathers”. It was recorded in Ireland and includes not only Gregorian chant but also some of the true warhorses from the days before Vatican II - Holy God We Praise Thy Name and that all time favorite “Bring Flowers of the Fairest” (betcha haven’t heard that one before:D ), You should also be able to obtain recordings from the cathedral choir in Minneapolis-St.Paul (can’t remember their name). They have recorded an awful lot of traditional music.

But that’s just the normal hymns and anthems used by most choirs with organs at normal Masses on Sundays. Then we go into the realm of those compositions composed by folks who know a little bit more about music than guitar chords. And here’s where your choices grow exponentially. Believe it or not, the Anglicans have written some of the finest music for choir and organ ever written. I absolutely adore the music of John Rutter (e.g. his “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” or “What Sweeter Music”). And he was preceeded by a great number of English composers who specialized in music for choir and organ. We have used so many of their compositions at church (because they are in English)…

Then we get into the entire range of music in Latin. You want organs, brass and choirs? Try Gabrielli and his Rennaissance contemporaries. One of my prized DVDs is a recording of Monteverdi’s “Vespers of the BVM” filmed in San Marco’s Cathedral in Venice with multiple choirs, original instruments and organ (John Elliot Gardiner conducts). Great stuff.

I guess I need a bit more info about your tastes. BTW, I just got back from a trip to Salt Lake City and this is the second time I have heard the Mormon Tabernacle Choir live in rehearsal. They have a lush choral sound but you can’t understand a word they are singing. They rely upon mikes. IMHO if a choir can’t ennuciate what they are singing and people sitting in the audience can’t understand a word of what they are singing, then what use are they as a choir?
 
brotherhrolf:

Thank you for your reply! I have a CD of John Rutter’s music, entitled ‘Mass Of the Children.’ My favorites on there are ‘Kyrie’ and ‘To Every Thing There Is A Season.’ I’m grateful for your insights about this kind of music, especially with the experience you have. I have been a lifelong fan of symphonic music. When it comes to Church hymns, all I can say is that A) there are many that I like, and B) they all sound better to me at Mass, played on the organ and sung by the congregation, than performed by a piano, guitar, and solo vocalist. Can’t tell you why, except to say that the latter sounds a bit empty. This is not to say I will refuse to listen to these arrangements; it’s just that they seem to be inescapable when one is seeking Church hymns to buy on CD. But I thank you for your recommendations via Amazon, and I can’t wait to check them out!
 
personally I have a horror of music written for guitar being transposed for organ, so if I did know of a source I would burn it. what usually happens is that the song is slowed down so much by the organ that it becomes a dirge. Even if the lyrics are unobjectionable, the music is intolerable.
 
Here are two of my Favorites, the second one is all Latin but is really beautiful.

Both are from Amazon but I try to order from local Catholic Book store to support their business even thought it cost a few extra dollars.

I recently joined a choir at my parish and am trying to build my collection so I look forward to the other post in this thread.

Sing Ye Heavens - Hymns for All Time
  1. O God, Our Help In Ages Past
  2. The King Of Love My Shepherd Is
  3. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
  4. Veni, Creator Spiritus
  5. Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending
  6. Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
  7. Pange Lingua
  8. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
  9. Vexilla Regis
  10. Drop, Drop Slow Tears
  11. When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
  12. Christ The Lord Is Risen Today
  13. Be Thou My Vision
  14. All Things Bright And Beautiful
  15. Morning Has Broken
  16. Amazing Grace
  17. We Plough The Fields, And Scatter
  18. Glory To Thee, My God, This Night
  19. The Day Thou Gavest, Lord Is Ended
  20. Eternal God
  21. Christ Is Made The Sure Foundation
Catholic Latin Classics
  1. Ave Maria
  2. O Salutaris Hostia
  3. Panis Angelicus - John Eskola
  4. Tantum Ergo
  5. Ave Maria - Lorelei McDermott
  6. O Sanctissima
  7. O Bone Jesu
  8. Ave Verum Corpus
  9. Jubilate Deo
  10. Confirma Hoc Deus
  11. Adoro Te, O Panis
  12. O Esca Viatorum
  13. Veni, Jesu, Amor Mi
  14. Emitte Spiritum Tuum
  15. Adoremus In Aeternum - William Combs
  16. Ave Maris Stella
  17. Regina Caeli Laetare
  18. Adoramus Te, Christe - The Cathedral Singers/Richard Proulx T
  19. Tantum Ergo
  20. Ecce Sacerdos Magnus
 
Just a reminder. Amazon lets you listen to portions of the album. It’s a great way to explore music and find stuff you would maybe like to buy.
 
Rutter Rutter Rutter!!!

(sorry - I’m definately a Rutter fan especially after singing “For the Beauty of the Earth” in 3 or 4 choirs, and conducting “God Be In My Head” as my final exam for Choral conducting in college (only two pages but gorgeous - acapella though - and way harder to conduct than one would think!)… but I love it all!)
 
Hey, just wanted to thank everyone who replied for their help and for furthering the discussion! I have found some CDs that look (and sound) promising. Better yet, some I have located on iTunes. I do love the sound of the symphony, and moreso with a choir added! It is one of my favorite things on earth. This is how I like to hear my favorite hymns performed! Thanks much!
 
Symphonic choral music: Check out the Tuba Mira section of Berlioz’s Requiem. Actually the whole Dies Irae section is great. Also Haydn wrote a whole bunch of Masses which are quite nice (I like the Lord Nelson Mass) and I would be amiss if I did not mention Mozart but I like Haydn’s Masses better.
 
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