Chorus Breviarii

Speaking in Latin!

2008-05-07T15:48:00.000-07:00

I'll be in Mobile, AL from August 5 to August 11 at the Cenaculum Familiae Sancti Hieronymi. I wish to extend the invitation to come to all of you. During the Cenaculum the Latin language is not only the official language of worship but also of conversation. Don't let that scare you! Everybody is welcome, there are several families with little children, and the level of Latin goes from minimal to excellent. Yes, it's a very family-friendly event. Last year it was in Tampa, FL and here is a slide show:

Boy, we had such a great time! Every day we had Mass (1962 Missal), Office, Rosary, etc. We even had a couple of sung Masses! We had lessons about various topics of Catholic interest, we solved puzzles, played word games, and had interesting conversations! We went on a trip to visit Tampa and St. Petersburg!

This year the Cenaculum is going to be in a wonderful place: the Visitation Monastery of Mobile and here's photo of the chapel, dedicated to the Sacred Heart:

Cost is only $295, which includes room and board. Can you believe it? Cur cunctaris? Veni ad Cenaculum! (What are you waiting for? Come to the Cenaculum!)

Video of Tenebrae 2008

2008-04-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of Tenebrae of Maundy Thursday

I made the video by editing with Cinelerra the tracks kindly provided by George and James. This is my first attempt with a software that seems to have innumerable features!

Video of Vespers of All Saints

2008-04-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a video of Vespers of All Saints 2007 uploaded on our YouTube page:

Gregorian Easter Vespers

2008-04-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

The Brothers of the Little Oratory

&
CHORUS BREVIARII SAN DIEGO

SUNDAY, 20 APRIL, 2008
15:00

GREGORIAN EASTER VESPERS

Fr. Reginald Defour, C.S.S.P., Hebdomadary

________________

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
1638 Polk Ave. San Diego, CA 92103

(Intersection of Park Blvd and Washington St.,
Normal Heights, San Diego
Off-street parking beside church)

_____________________

For further information see our blogs at:

sandiegooratorians.blogspot.com
chorusbreviarii.blogspot.com

Or call John Polhamus at: 858 997 8636

Video of the November Pontifical Requiem

2008-03-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

The first, preliminary video of the November Pontifical Requiem the Brothers of the Little Oratory and Chorus Breviarii served for is out on YouTube

8th Annual Tenebrae a Great Success

2008-03-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

The 8th Annual Tenebrae was a great success, with somewhere between 50 and 100 in attendance. The ad hoc Tomas Luis de Victoria Choir sang that composer's first Lamentation of Jeremias, then the second and third in settings by Tudor era composer Robert White (d.1574). In addition they offered the antiphon "Christus factus est" by Mexican baroque composer Francisco Lopez Capillas, and the "Miserere" of Hernando Franco, both chapelmasters at the Cathedral in Mexico City. The "fragor et strepitus" or beating of the choirbooks (and anything else to hand) in the darkened church, and in simulation of the earthquake which marked the moment of our Lord's death on the Cross, provided an always alien and unexpected dramatic note to conclude the proceedings.

Read it all at The Brothers of the Little Oratory blog.

8th Annual Gregorian Tenebrae

2008-03-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

~ The Brothers of the Little Oratory ~

~ & CHORUS BREVIARII SAN DIEGO ~

WEDNESDAY, 19 MARCH, 2008
19:00

8th ANNUAL
GREGORIAN TENEBRAE
Office of Matins and Lauds (First Office hours)
of Holy Thursday
Fr. Reginald Defour, C.S.S.P., Hebdomadary

Polyphonic music to include:
``Lamentations of Jeremias''
by T.L. Victoria (i), and Robert White (II & III) (d. 1574)
Antiphon “Christus factus est”
by Francisco Lopez Capillas (1608-1674),
& Psalm 50 “Miserere mei, Deus”
by Hernando Franco (1532–1585)

________________

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
1638 Polk Ave. San Diego, CA 92103

(Intersection of Park Blvd and Washington St.,
Normal Heights, San Diego
Off-street parking beside church)

_____________________

For further information see our blogs at:

www.sandiegooratorians.blogspot.com
www.chorusbreviarii.blogspot.com

Or call John Polhamus at: 858 997 8636

UVOC Lenten Pilgrimage

2008-03-12T22:06:00.000-07:00

Brothers Wayne and Roberto traveled 14 miles from Saint Michael's Abbey to Mission San Juan Capristrano in the 8th Annual pilgrimage hosted by Una Voce of Orange County. This time around Brother Roberto brought along the Papal flag to be carried to the Mission which was incredible. After the long penitential pilgrimage both brothers were seated in the Sanctuary where Blessed Serra once celebrated the Traditional Latin Mass. California is definitely Catholic haunted and one day I hope California will return to the full True Faith.

Viva il Papa!!
Viva Cristo Rey!!

Psalmists and Little Brothers Observe Rubrics of Passion-tide

2008-03-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Brothers of the Oratory in San Diego together with Psalmists of Chorus Breviarii mark Passion-tide by the singing of the Passion-tide tone for the Compline hymn “Te lucis ante términum”.

To Thee, before the close of day
Creator of the world, we pray
that with Thy wonted favor,
Thou wouldst be our Guard and Keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
from nightly fears and fantasies:
tread under foot our ghostly foe,
that no pollution we may know.

O Father, that we ask be done
through Jesus Christ Thine only Son,
who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
shall live and reign æternally. Amen.

~ From the Roman Breviary, translation by J. M. Neale (1818-1866).

The Passion-tide tone is used until the Wednesday of Holy Week (Spy Wednesday), unless the contrary is indicated in the Rubric. Hymn tones vary from liturgical season to season.

Also in the Office of the Time, from the First Sunday of the Passion until Spy Wednesday, the versicle Gloria Patri is not said in the Short Response of Compline, but the Responsory In manus is repeated.

Missa Cantata Requiem for Mary Rains

2008-03-02T14:11:00.001-08:00

I Want You for Chorus Breviarii!

2008-02-12T21:20:00.000-08:00

Would you like to join Chorus Breviarii? Contact us! All men of good will are welcome to rehearsal, where you'll learn how to sing Gregorian chant. It is easy and no previous musical knowledge is assumed.
We currently meet at St. John's in North Park (1638 Polk Ave, San Diego, CA 92103-2622) every Monday at 19:15, but contact us beforehand to be sure.
Although only Catholic (i.e. in communion with H.H. Pope Benedict XVI) males are allowed to perform liturgically and to sing in the sanctuary, all others are invited to sing antiphonally from the choir loft or from the pews.
As soon as you can, you should acquire a copy of the Liber Usualis, which is the most complete collection of chants for the Mass and the Office. The reprint of the 1953 edition from St. Bonaventure Press is sold, for example, at this site. The 1962 edition, with the reformed Holy Week, is more valuable but considerably more expensive.
You will also need a cassock and a cotta (a.k.a. surplice). I bought mine from from Catholic Supply: I chose the Toomey brand cassock, which turned out to be adequate. One of us bought the Abbey brand cassock and he's not pleased with it because the snaps tore the fabric. It doesn't make sense to buy a more expensive cassock. Bottom line, I recommend the following:

Item #600 Black Cassock

Item #890 Square Neck Surplice

Choose the size according to your height. Catholic Supplies shows the length of the garment: measure yourself from the base of the neck to the floor and subtract three inches.

Liturgical Stool

2008-01-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

This nice stool is called ODDVAR and it is made by IKEA. We use this stool when we chant the Office in choir in a church that does not have adequate seats for us. Too bad that IKEA does not sell it online, but it can be bought at some local stores.

Sounds from a Wedding

2008-01-14T18:20:00.000-08:00

Saturday we sang for a wedding in Coronado. Here are two samples of how we sounded (please consider that it is a live recording):

boomp3.com

boomp3.com

If you would like Chorus Breviarii to sing for your wedding, please contact us.

Group Shot

2008-01-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

This was taken after Vespers of All Saints (10/30/2007) at Our Lady of the Rosary in downtown. It appears in the Winter 2007 OLR Newsletter. The hebdomadary was Fr. Joseph M. Tabague, C.R.S.P.

St. Philip's 1st Church to become home of TLM in Rome

2007-12-17T14:20:00.000-08:00

From early January the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite will have a new home in Rome in the form of a Personal Parish given over exclusively for the use of the old rite. The church selected for this distinction is the church of the Ss. Trinita dei Pellegrini. For Oratorians this church has a very special meaning, as it was first associated with the Archconfraternity of the Holy Trinity, founded in 1548 by the young Philip Neri and dedicated to helping the pilgrime or "pellegrini" who were about to flood Rome in advance of the Holy Year of 1550. This work was the beginning of the Oratory, and the return of this church to the rite so beloved by St. Philip is the cause of profound Oratorian Joy...and a little smugitas that a church so closely associated with "our Saint" is the first to make so broad a home for the traditional mass in the Eternal City.

This is truly a joyful "Gaudete" week then, for Oratorians, traditional Catholics, and orthodox Roman Catholics everywhere. The news report supplied by the FSSP Melbourne, says that the Holy Father wishes this to be understood as a model for the entire church. Under such circumstances, it is that much easier to live out St. Philip's famous motto, "Allegramente! Allegramente!" or, "Be cheerful! Be cheerful!"

The Mexico City Oratory of St. Philip Neri - The Historic Church of La Profesa, site of recent Ex. Form Mass by Msgr. Schmitz. ICKSP

2007-12-03T11:50:00.001-08:00

Here are some pictures (best I could do on a flying visit) of the Church of La Profesa, the former Jesuit Church, now the Mexico Oratory (since 1767). The Oratorians had been in Mexico City since about 1660, but had had two churches knocked down or damaged by earthquakes. And when the earth quakes in Mexico City, it really quakes, so it is a miracle that the Profesa is still standing today.

Last week, Msgr. Schmitz of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP), celebrated his first mass (while in the city on this trip) at the Church of the Profesa, the Mexico City Oratory. I don't know yet whether he used the respectable looking table altar, but I noted on a recent visit that the high altar remains undisturbed, as do all the eight side altars. Promising indeed. Enjoy the photos.

Sounds from the Requiem

2007-11-30T10:57:00.000-08:00

Here are two live recordings of Chorus Breviarii singing for the Pontifical Requiem of November 17. Although the Bach Collegium sang most of the Mass, the composer left out the Gradual and Tract, which had to be sung in Gregorian chant.

Gradual:

boomp3.com

Tract:

boomp3.com

On the Bishop's Mantelletta

2007-11-30T09:29:00.000-08:00

Some self-appointed expert on the blogosphere criticized Bp. Cordileone for wearing the mantelletta as part of the ceremonies preceding the pontifical Requiem he graciously celebrated on Nov. 17 (the mantelletta was abolished for cardinals and bishops in 1969). Fr. Burt Boudoin spoke with His Excellency and here's what he wrote in a comment box:

After speaking to Bishop Cordileone, I can report that he makes the following points:

1) the Pontifical Mass of the traditional rite requires the solemn vesting of the bishop before the altar as part of the pre-ceremonies of the liturgy, to which the bishop arrives at the church or chapel in proper choir dress...
2) the proper choir dress for an auxiliary bishop (1962 rubrics) -- Bishop Cordileone's present status -- includes the mantelletta rather than the mozzetta, which was considered to indicate the jurisdiction of an ordinary.

Obviously, we do not have here an instance of disobedience to current rules of eccl. vesture. Rather, until and if, the Commission of Eccl. Dei makes comment on the question, we have perfect adherence to a principle of the Motu Proprio of the Holy Father, that the old and present rites are not to be mixed...

Most importantly, the Mass was a beautiful example of the liturgical restoration underway... with Gregorian chant that bespoke of the glory of God and the legacy of the Roman tradition.

Thank you, Fr. Burt!

H.E. sporting the mantelletta.

John Polhamus on Vespers

2007-11-28T10:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a short speech by our fearless director about the service of Vespers. It was given at St. Margaret's in Oceanside on November 15.

boomp3.com

Before and After the Requiem

2007-11-26T13:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos that Wayne sent me. You can find them all in this album.
On the evening before the brothers met to prepare things in the sacristy of St. John's:

Before singing Vespers and Matins, they went out for dinner.

Frater David lights the candles before service.

It was quite a night!

In the morning we returned to sing Lauds:

Wayne mastering the details of the ceremony:

The ceremonieri: Ashley the Impeccable and John the Maestro:

Cope and maniples:

The altar:

His Excellency arrives:

H.E. with Fr. Archimandrite Nicholas (left), Br. John, and Fr. Deacon Moses of Holy Resurrection Monastery during the reception after Mass.

Sub tuum praesidium:

The Most Beautiful Thing This Side of Heaven

2007-11-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

November 17 was a memorable day for Chorus Breviarii and for San Diego: a Pontifical Requiem in the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite was celebrated by H.E. the Most Rev.d Mons. Salvatore Cordileone for the repose of the soul of Fr. Sir Hugh Barrett-Lennard, Cong. Orat. Lond. , Bart. (1917-2007).
The first photos of this event have begun to reach me and I'll be posting more as they come. These are from the video taken by Mr. Dave Lanfranchi, the President of Una Voce Orange County. Slightly larger photos can be seen in this album.

In case you wonder, we were honored by the presence in choir of three monks from Holy Resurrection Monastery, a traditional Byzantine monastic community in communion with Rome.

Nov. 17: Pontifical Requiem

2007-11-10T15:44:00.000-08:00

SATURDAY Aft., 17 NOVEMBER 2007 , 12:00 (NOON)

SOLEMN PONTIFICAL REQUIEM MASS

~ In the Traditional Roman Rite – Extraordinary Form ~

Celebrated by H.E. Salvatore Cordileone,

Auxiliary of the Diocese of San Diego

Choir of the Bach Collegium San Diego

Ruben Valenzuela, Dir.

Music to include: San Diego Premier Performance of the Requiem Mass for 4 voices

by Giovanni Francesco Anerio (1567-1630)

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC CHURCH

1638 Polk Avenue

(Intersection of Park Blvd. and Polk Ave., University Heights)

The Mass will be celebrated for the repose of the soul of Fr. Sir Hugh Barrett-Lennard, Cong. Orat. Lond. , Bart. (1917-2007).

Nov. 15: 1st Vespers of St. Margaret

2007-11-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

THURSDAY Eve., 15 NOVEMBER 2007 7:00pm (19:00)

Solemn First Vespers

of the Feast of St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland

with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

~ First Extraordinary Form Vesper Service in the New Church! ~

St. MARGARET’S CATHOLIC CHURCH

4300 Oceanside Blvd, Oceanside CA.

(Directions: 5 North or South to Oceanside Blvd.,

then East 5.0 miles, church is on left past College Blvd.)

Vespers at Good Shepherd's

2007-11-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

SUNDAY Aft., 4 NOVEMBER 2007 3:30p.m. (15:00)

Gregorian Sunday Vespers

followed by

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC CHURCH

8200 Gold Coast Dr., Mira Mesa, San Diego, CA.

MUSIC TO INCLUDE: Solemn Tone Salve Regina

Reclaim All Hallows' Eve for Christ!

2007-10-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

WEDNESDAY EVENING, 31 OCTOBER 2007 , 7:00P.M.

RECLAIM ALL HALLOWS' EVE FOR CHRIST!

SOLEMN 1st VESPERS OF THE

FEAST OF ALL SAINTS

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH

It has become a tradition for us of Chorus Breviarii to celebrate first Vespers of All Saints: this will be the fourth year! For the first time it will be at Our Lady of the Rosary, the jewel of Little Italy, in downtown San Diego. Time: 19:00 or 7:00 P.M.
Hallowe'en is not an innocent play time for children any more. Therefore we want to bring it back to Christ. It will be a good opportunity to pray, when so many people in our county are suffering because of the fires.

Fr. Joseph Tabigue, C.R.S.P., will be Hebdomadary. Parking advisory: arrive early because due to the number of parish events there is no parking available in the church lot. You have to park on the street. Even better: take the trolley.
Prizes will be awarded to the best children's saint's costume!