SACRED MUSIC DIVISION
Formed in partnership with the St. Paul’s Choir School, the Harvard Catholic Forum’s Sacred Music Division invites participants into a deeper engagement with the soaring beauty of a long and rich musical tradition. Our programs integrate the experience, understanding, and performance of sacred music into the music’s grounding and purpose - in spirituality, theology, devotion and liturgy.
Co-presented by the St. Paul’s Choir School
MENDELSSOHN’S ST. PAUL, A PRE-PERFORMANCE LECTURE AND DISCUSSION:
THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MENDELSSOHN’S APOSTOLIC DRAMA
Saturday, May 11
5:30 - 6:30 PM Lecture
St. Paul’s Harvard Square Campus, 29 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge
Fr. Peter Grover OMV
St. John’s Seminary
8 PM Performance
Sanders Theater, Cambridge MA
The Harvard Chorus with professional orchestra and soloists, directed by Edward Jones, part of the Harvard Arts First Festival.
The Biblical scholar Fr. Peter Grover explores the Scriptural foundations of the apostle Paul, the central figure in Mendelssohn’s oratorio. Followed by the concert at Harvard University at 8PM.
Co-presented with the St. Paul’s Choir School
HONORING THE VIRGIN MARY IN PRAYER AND MUSIC
Thursday, April 25
Elizabeth Lyon Hall
COLLIS/Cornell University
Music by the Saint Paul’s Boys Choir and soloists, dir. Richard Webster
St. Paul’s Church, Cambridge MA, and Livestreamed
Join us for a feast of music in honor of the Virgin Mary by William Byrd (1540-1623), sung by the Saint Paul’s Boys Choir, preceded by Dr. Lyon’s lecture with Q&A exploring the role of Mary in Christian devotion and the expression of Marian themes in Byrd’s music.
Co-sponsored by COLLIS Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture
Co-presented with the St. Paul’s Choir School
WORKSHOP: BACH’S ST. MATTHEW PASSION
WITH MICHAEL MARISSEN
Saturday, March 23
DiGiovanni Hall, St. Paul’s Campus
Michael Marissen
Swarthmore College
Co-Sponsored by Emmanuel Music and the Ratzinger Memorial Society
Michael Marissen, renowned authority on the music and spiritual vision of J.S. Bach, explores the text, musical rhetoric, theological framework, liturgical context, historical setting, and spiritual vision of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. Lecture with recorded music, study of the text (to be handed out), and Q&A. Refreshments and lunch provided.
Co-presented with the St. Paul’s Choir School
THE MISERERE (PSALM 51) IN PRAYER AND MUSIC
Thursday, March 7
Lecture - Dr. Matthew Hall
Music - Music by the Boys' Choir of St. Paul's and the Ferris Choral Fellows of Harvard University, dir. Richard Webster
St. Paul’s Church, Cambridge MA and Livestreamed
Psalm 51 is a profound prayer and meditation on repentance, conversion, and divine forgiveness. Dr. Matthew Hall explores the text of the psalm, its theological and spiritual vision, and its expression through music in works of Allegri, Josquin, and Byrd. This music then will be sung by the Saint Paul’s Boys Choir and soloists.
Co-sponsored by the Nova Forum
HARVARD CATHOLIC SCHOLA AT ST. PAUL'S
Offered in collaboration with the Harvard Catholic Center
Learn and sing repertoire from the Catholic tradition of sacred music, including chant, polyphony, and traditional hymnody, while supporting the regular choir for the 5pm Student Mass on Sundays at St. Paul’s/ Harvard Square during the academic year.
For undergraduate and graduate students, as well as recent graduates, from Harvard and other area universities or conservatories, drawn to Catholic music ministry.
PREVIOUS SACRED MUSIC EVENTS
Other past events:
MANUSCRIPTS FOR PRAYER AND MUSIC IN HOUGHTON LIBRARY | THOMAS FORREST KELLY
VERDI'S REQUIEM: PRE-PERFORMANCE LECTURE AND DISCUSSION | THOMAS FORREST KELLY
