Catholic Sacred Music as a Radiant Witness

13000 Bennington Avenue,Grandview MO 64030

31 May, 2023

Description

Catholic Sacred Music as a Radiant Witness, a workshop led by accomplished composer, conductor, and educator Paul Jernberg, aims to assist Catholic clergy and church musicians in their quest to be wise and faithful stewards in overseeing and directing the liturgical music of the parishes, communities, and schools whom they serve. This assistance will be offered in theoretical and practical dimensions, as described below. Theory and Guiding Principles A concise presentation will be given of some of the most fundamental principles which are inherent to the faithful stewardship of Catholic liturgical music, but which often have been overlooked. These principles flow from Church teaching (including the Second Vatican Council), the nature and genius of the “musical tradition of the universal Church,” the nature of skilled musicianship, and the models of authentic Christian leadership which we have received from our Lord and the lives of the saints. Among the areas presented and discussed will be: Repertoire: according to Church teaching, good musicianship, and the needs of particular communities. The need for deep roots in tradition, as well as to “resonate”(with holiness and beauty) with the people whom we serve, will also be covered.Essential Skills for Church Musicians: not for the sake of drawing attention to ourselves, but rather of pointing beyond ourselves and our music through its“iconographic” beauty.Spirituality: prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit, in fidelity to Christ and his Church —at the “heart” of our great sacred music tradition and its renewal in any timeand place.Sacred Music Catechetics: for young and oldCommon Obstacles and Challenges: looking with realism and faith at the difficulties which many of us face, and ways in which they can be addressed in the short and long term.Practice and Singing Liturgy As an equally vital aspect of this workshop, participants will also prepare together, under the direction of Mr. Jernberg, a sung Mass to be celebrated on Saturday morning. This Mass and its preparation will incorporate many of the principles covered in the theoretical dimension ofthe workshop. The rehearsals for this sung Mass will be held in alternation with the talks, so as to minimize mental and vocal fatigue, and to promote optimal engagement and learning. Time permitting, we will also prepare and sing Vespers and/or Compline services on Thursday and Friday evenings. PDFs of sheet music will be provided to registrants one month prior to the workshop. Lodgings Contact Holiday Inn Express & Suites at 816-268-5858 and mention "Scintilla Institute" for our group block rate (cost of lodging is not included in the registration fee for this workshop.) The hotel is located less than a mile away from Coronation of Our Lady, the location of the workshop. Address of the hotel: 12801 South 71 Hwy, Grandview, MO 64030 Holiday Inn Express website and details Meals The Wednesday reception food is included. Bagels and coffee will be available each morning; lunches will be provided Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Dinner will be up to participants to arrange separately. A list of local restaurants will be provided to registrants. Cost Total cost for the full program from the Wednesday evening reception through Saturday lunch is $150. This includes a non-refundable deposit of $50. For those who are able to attend only part of the workshops, tickets for single days of the workshop will be available for $75 each. Paul Jernberg, Jr. Born in Chicago in 1953, Paul Jernberg's early professional formation included music and piano performance studies at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago and Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago. His early career in secular music included work as a piano accompanist and musical theater director. Alongside this musical work, Paul was also a professional swimming coach, holding positions in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at Arizona State University in Tempe, and in Gothenburg, Sweden. In Sweden, 1983-1993, Paul's musical career expanded to include choral directing and composition. During this time he also participated in the community life of a Franciscan Friary near Gothenburg, through which he was introduced to the treasures of Gregorian chant and Eastern Orthodox sacred music. Since returning to the U.S. in 1993, Paul has been a parish music director, composer, and educator: in Chicago’s inner city, in Peoria, Illinois, and in central Massachusetts. During his ten years at Trivium School in Lancaster, Massachusetts, he taught not only music but also English Literature and Composition, Theology, Latin, French, and Algebra. In 2005 Paul became the founding director of Magnificat Academy, a Choir School with a full academic curriculum for grades 4-12 in Warren, Massachusetts. After flourishing in Warren for three years, it was moved to Worcester to become the Choir School of St. Paul's Cathedral. In the midst of national and local economic crises, Magnificat shifted its focus in 2011 to the renewal of Catholic liturgical music in the universal Church. Today Paul is the director of this full-fledged non-profit organization, which has been renamed Magnificat Institute of Sacred Music. In the summer of 2014, the renowned Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle recorded Paul’s Mass of Saint Philip Neri, which is the first published musical setting of the entire Ordinary of the Mass in English, for congregation and SATB choir. This and other sacred music by Paul is now being sung in many parishes throughout the United States, as well as in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Sweden. In January 2021, EWTN aired the world premiere of The Song of the Longing Heart, a documentary by French filmmaker Francois Lespes, on Paul's work as a composer of sacred music. Tentative Daily Workshop Schedule Morning Session 9:00 am - Mass 9:40 am - Bagels and Coffee 9:50 am Paul Jernberg - Talk One 10:30 am Q&A / Discussion 11:00 am - Break 11:15 am - Rehearse — Afternoon Session 12:00 - Lunch in the Parish Hall and Free Time 1:00 pm - Paul Jernberg - Talk Two 1:45 pm - Q&A/discussion/breakout sessions 2:30 pm - Rehearse 3:15 pm - Break — Evening Session 3:30 pm - Paul Jernberg - Talk Three 4:30 pm Offsite Dinner at Local Restaurant 6:00 pm - Rehearse 6:30 pm - Sung Vespers or 7:00 Sung Compline Adjourn for the day