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Corpus Christi Watershed

Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”

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Views from the Choir Loft

“What A Choral Conductor Must Know” • Interview with Dr. John Paul Johnson

Corpus Christi Watershed · January 13, 2025

HE PRESIDENT of Corpus Christi Watershed recently interviewed DR. JOHN PAUL JOHNSON, a frequent guest conductor at Carnegie Hall in New York City. His choirs have sung across the globe, on national television, and on public radio. Dr. Johnson has served as conductor-in-residence at the Chopin Academy of Music (Warsaw) and Trinity College of Music (London). He replaced SIMON CARRINGTON as director of choral activities at the University of Kansas,1 simultaneously serving as director of graduate studies. He has been chosen as guest conductor, clinician, or adjudicator for more than 700 festivals and workshops worldwide.

Pro Tip • The story told by Dr. Johnson vis-à-vis the first time he conducted at CARNEGIE HALL is not to be missed. It begins around the 18:20 marker:

Here’s the direct URL link.

Some Topics Broached:

(1) A particular conductor who’s a terrible singer

(2) Rehearsing without a piano

(3) “Audiation” for students going to a competition

(4) Dr. Johnson’s his first time conducting in Carnegie Hall

(5) Throwing a music stand through a wall

(6) Score-study after retirement (“learning music you’ll never conduct”)

(7) Those who get “sucked in” when nobody else will conduct

(8) Singers who skip rehearsal

(9) Fundraising

(10) Whether conducting is “the easiest thing in the world”

(11) Taking advice about one’s own conducting

(12) Learning from someone you trust

(13) When you hate your own voice

(14) Doing things you warn your students not to do

(15) When you hear individuals singing instead of choral sound

(16) Wowels not lining up

(17) The “waxed pear” trick

(18) Are you “convinced” when you hear a performance?

(19) The four “main things” for a choral director

(20) Dr. Johnson—like Jeff Ostrowski—has the singers themselves reflect on what they’re hearing

(21) How to “match” vowels on extremely polyphonic music

(22) Lifting the soft palette

(23) Common problems that plague students emerging from a conservatory

(24) The importance of appraising correctly a choir you’re choosing repertoire for

(25) “Tricking” choirs into singing high notes

(26) Tips on choosing repertoire from J.W. Pepper online

(27) Which classes you must not skip at college

(28) Being aware of what you don’t know

(29) Pieces every choral conductor should know

(30) The value of Renaissance choral music

(31) One of Dr. Johnson’s most cherished conversations

(32) Story about a broken pipe organ

(33) Swedish “holler” song

(34) Different “continuo” instruments

(35) Performing at Kennedy Center for Performing Arts

(36) Why it’s hard to get standing ovation in Lawrence, KS

(37) The Duruflé Requiem

(38) Conducting the “Duruflé Requiem” at Carnegie Hall

1 Dr. Johnson also held distinguished teaching positions at Texas State University and Wichita State University.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Dr John Paul Johnson, Duruflé Requiem, Simon Carrington, University of Kansas Last Updated: January 13, 2025

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Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
    My pastor asked me to write brief articles each week for our parish bulletin. Those responsible for preparing similar write-ups may find a bit of inspiration in these brief columns. The most recent article speaks about the recent announcement by Pope Leo XIV, which does have an impact on church musicians. Scheduled for publication on 2025 08 10th, it’s called: “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
    All the chants for 3 August 2025—which is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)—have been added to the feasts website, as usual under a convenient “drop down” menu. The COMMUNION ANTIPHON (from the book of Wisdom) is stunning. That feast website has been called “the best kept secret of Church music.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    “Corn” From Heaven?
    The Westminster Version of the Sacred Scriptures was produced by Roman Catholics in England and bears a 15 March 1958 IMPRIMATUR from the Archbishop of Westminster. Its IMPRIMI POTEST was given by the director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Sometimes words chosen by translators sound funny to American ears. For instance, one of our Responsorial Psalms has as its refrain: “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.” But the British version has “The Lord gave them corn from heaven.” Feel free to examine this with your own eyes. (It comes from Psalm 77.)
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“The Humanists abominated the rhythmical poetry of the Middle Ages from an exaggerated enthusiasm for ancient classical forms and meters. Hymnody then received its death blow as, on the revision of the Breviary under Pope Urban VIII, the medieval rhythmical hymns were forced into more classical forms by means of so-called corrections.”

— ‘Father Clemens Blume, S.J.’

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  • “Pope Leo XIV Has Announced…”
  • “Chants” • 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • “Corn” From Heaven?
  • Gospel Acclamation Verses … Nowhere Assigned?

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