Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Where's Milwaukee in This List?

In the past, Milwaukee's Archdiocese was a center of liturgical music. Abp. Henni imported John Singenberger to serve as the Director of Music at the Seminary--Singenberger was trained in Regensburg, the home of the Liturgical Music reform movement, and that movement was the major force behind the reforms instituted by Pius X and Pius XII. Singenberger was a very influential guy across the USA through his writings, and by establishing the Caecelian Society of church musicians.

Of course, things went a bit wonzo since (say, for fun) 1976.

But now, with a Regensburg-area native as Pope, and with his 'reform of the reform' underway, Milwaukee (and Wisconsin) does not appear on this list:

Take a look at these upcoming events:
Introduction to Parish Chant, Salinas, California, September 14-15, 2007, led by Kathy Reinheimer, at Madonna del Sasso Parish, 320 E Laurel Dr, Salinas, CA 93906.
Missa in Cantu: Priest Training in the Sung Mass, October 17-19, 2007, sponsored by the Church Music Association and St. John Cantius, Chicago, Illinois, held at the parish in Chicago.
Sacred Music: A Workshop in Gregorian Chant, November 9-10, 2007, St. John Beloved Parish, McLean, Virginia, led by Scott Turkington
Sacred Music Workshop, November 9-10, 2007, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Woodstock, Georgia, led by Arlene Oost-Zinner and Jeffrey Tucker
Sacred Music Shreveport, November 30-December 1, 2007, Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, Shreveport, Louisiana, led by Kurt Poterack.
Rocky Mountain Region Sacred Music Workshop, St. Mary’s Cathedral, January 18-19, 2008, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Sacred Music Workshop, Sponsored by the St. Cecilia Schola and led by Wilko Brouwers, February 1-2, 2008, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Auburn, Alabama.
Sacred Music Colloquium, Sponsored by the Church Music Association of America, June 15-21, 2008, Loyola University, Chicago.

Alabama? Georgia? Louisiana? Are you KIDDING?

The closest we get is that a Diocesan priest/scholar, now retired, leads a tour AWAY from Milwaukee:

Chant Study Tour, Sponsored by Fr. Robert Skeris, July 21-August 1, 2008, Switzerland, Italy, Germany

Is the Direktoriat of Liturgy/Milwaukee so impoverished? Or is it a case of "lousy tree, no fruit"?

The "FAQ" page of the Direktoriat is an omen, I guess.

2 comments:

RAG said...

With his impressive music credential, I think Archbishop Weakland would be the ideal advocate and perhaps Archbishop Dolan will agree and give Rembert the assignment.

Terrence Berres said...

My favorite,

"Q. I am confused/unhappy/curious about a particular liturgical practice in my parish. What resources are available for me?

"A. ... [parish] staff and committee members know the parish best and should be intimately familiar with the reasons for the choices they have made."

Should be, but at my parish, they give me "we decided" as the reason.