Beginners’ Gregorian Chant Lessons
Posted on Friday, May 1st, 2009 in EventsWednesday Evening from 7:30-8:30 PM in the Oratory Hall
June 3rd – July 29th
St. Francis de Sales Oratory and its Director for Sacred Music, Mr. Nick Botkins, are pleased to announce a nine-week course in Gregorian chant for beginners. The lessons will be offered once a week on Wednesday evening from 7:30-8:30 PM in the Oratory hall. The course runs from June 3rd to July 29th. Information brochure is available by contacting the Oratory (314) 771-3100.
Goal of This Course
The goal of this course is to teach beginners to sing chant, and to become well-acquainted with three different settings of the Mass that the Church has suggested for use throughout the year. These settings include: Mass XI Orbis factor (Post-Pentecost), Mass IV Cunctipotens genitor Deus, and Mass IX Cum jubilo (for Feasts of the Blessed Virgin).
Other material to be covered will include:
- The responses of the faithful
- Sprinkling Antiphon Asperges Me
- Te Deum
- Hymns for Benediction
- Seasonal Marian antiphons
Participants will be exposed to Gregorian chant notation (a.k.a. square notes), and brief explanations will be made regarding this notation.
Who May Attend?
Any lay people who are interested in learning about Gregorian Chant and are willing sing it at Mass is welcome. This course is designed for the beginner, thus no prior experience in Gregorian chant or Church Latin is necessary, but the ability to carry a tune will be helpful.
Faithful of the Oratory, as well as visitors from parishes are welcome. Clergy and seminarians are also welcome, if they wish to learn the above mentioned material. Participants are encouraged to bring friends to introduce them to this form of sacred music.
Course Material
Copies of all music will be provided. Please provide your own one-inch binder, and a pencil for making notes during class.
Date, Time, Location of Lessons
These lessons will be held every Wednesday evening in the Oratory Hall, beginning on June 3rd. Each lesson will last between 45 and 60 minutes, and will begin promptly at 7:30 PM, so please be punctual. There will be time to socialize before and after each lesson. Mr. Botkins will be available to answer any question you may have regarding the course material.
Throughout the nine-week course, all participants are encouraged to attend the High Masses at the Oratory, on Sundays or feast days, to practice what they have learned.
How to Register
Send an e-mail to Mr. Nick Botkins (nbotkins@institute-christ-king.org), and please indicate your name, phone number, parish, and level of singing experience.
Fee
These lessons are offered free of charge to both diocesan parishioners and faithful of the Oratory. Donations are welcome, and will be directed towards the restoration effort.
Experienced Choristers & Musicians Who Know Chant
You are most welcome to join one of the Gregorian scholas at St. Francis de Sales Oratory:
- Gentlemen’s Schola rehearses Saturday morning from 9:15 – 10:30.
- Ladies’ Schola rehearses Thursday evening from 5:15- 6:30.
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At the Oratory, we are very pleased by the large and diverse group that has come together from all over the city and from different parishes to attend this Gregorian Chant session. I would like to thank Nick Botkins, and Matthew Walter who has been volunteering to help as well, for taking on this commitment. The fruits are very good: the chant of the Church is being made more widely known and loved. Where else can you take a series of free lessons in chant from someone who both understands and loves the timeless music of the Church?
Canon Jason T. Apple, Vicar
St. Francis de Sales Oratory