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Sacred Music
Lifting up our voices to the Lord
The Church has always relied on music as its primary voice of prayer. Over the centuries a rich tradition of liturgical music has been and continues to be developed. Worship without music is simply inconceivable. Sacred music, even outside of the context of the liturgy, plays an important role in the life of the Church as it speaks eloquently of the mystery of faith and lifts our hearts and minds to God.
The importance of music in biblical religion is shown very simply by the fact that the verb “to sing” is one of the most commonly used words in the Bible. It occurs 309 times in the Old Testament and 36 in the New Testament. When man comes into contact with God, mere speech is not enough. Areas of his existence are awakened that spontaneously turn into song. Indeed, man’s own being is insufficient for what he has to express, and so he invites the whole of creation to become a song with him: “Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, 0 Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds” (Ps 57:8f.). It goes without saying that the biblical and liturgical texts are the normative words from which liturgical music has to take its bearings. This does not rule out the continuing creation of “new songs,” but instead inspires them and assures them of a firm grounding in God’s love for mankind and His work of redemption.
The Cathedral of Saint Patrick sacred music program is dedicated to the very best in the Catholic Church's musical patrimony, from Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony to choral masterworks of the modern era. Singers in the Cathedral Choirs strive to portray the truth of the Catholic faith through the beauty of music. The Cathedral organ was built in 1980 by W. Zimmer & Sons of Charlotte. It is a two manual, 31 rank, mechanical action organ and is used regularly both for liturgies and for concerts.
The Cathedral Choir
The Cathedral Choir, with members from high school age through adult, sings every Sunday at the 11 a.m. Mass, as well as on Holy Days and during the Paschal Triduum. Singers in this choir also take part in men and women’s Gregorian chant scholas. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from 7:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. The Cathedral Choir focuses on both leading the congregation in song as well as singing the finest music from the sacred choral repertory.
The Cathedral Children’s Choirs
The Cathedral children’s choir offers a quality choral music program for children in grades 2-8 that is both fun and rewarding. The Cathedral 3rd-8th grade choir follows the Royal School of Church Music curriculum, Voice for Life, and practices an hour weekly (scheduled practice times are available from 3pm–4pm Tuesday or Wednesday,Wednesday 4pm-5pm, or Saturday 3:30-4:30pm). The Cathedral 3rd-8th grade choir sing one Sunday a month at the 9am Mass during the school year. The Cathedral 2nd grade choir serves as an introduction to basic vocal technique, music theory, and the importance of working together as a musical group. The 2nd grade choir rehearses at the same times above, but only for 30 minutes. They also sing for the 9am Mass once a month. CLICK HERE for more information and a children's choir registration form.
The Cathedral High School Choir
The Cathedral High School Choir is composed of young people in grades 8-12, or any younger boys with changed voices. This group meets monthly on Sunday afternoons from 3-4pm, and sings for the following Sunday 9am Mass at the Cathedral. CLICK HERE for more information and a high school choir registration form.
For information on taking part in the Cathedral’s sacred music program, contact Dr. Gianfranco DeLuca, Director of Sacred Music.
Recent Recordings
The following are choral recordings made during recent liturgies at the Cathedral.
Cathedral Choir
Animam Meam Dilectam-Tomás Luis de Victoria
Exsurge Domine-Alessandro Scarlatti
Estote Fortes In Bello-Luca Marenzio
Tantum Ergo-Marcel Dupré
O Sacrum Convivium-Luca Marenzio
Hodie Christus Natus Est-Luca Marenzio
Magnificat in Bb (1st movement)—Francesco Durante (with Children’s Choir)
Kyrie (Messa da Capella)—Claudio Monteverdi
O Magnum Mysterium—Pedro de Cristo
Ubi Caritas-Ola Gjeilo
Caligaverunt Oculi Mei-Tomás Luis de Victoria
Kyrie & Gloria (Missa Brevis in C)-Franz Xaver Brixi
Surrexit a Mortuis-Charles-Marie Widor
Kyrie & Gloria (Messa á 4)—Giovanni Paolo Cima
Regina Caeli-Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Alleluia, Surrexit Christus-Johann Michael Haydn
Kyrie (Missa 'Il Bianco e Dolce Cigno')-Stefano Bernardi
Cathedral Children's Choir
O Salutaris Hostia-Léo Delibes
Ave Verum Corpus-Gabriel Fauré
Lord For Thy Tender Mercy's Sake-Richard Farrant
My Song Is Love Unknown—Malcolm Archer
Stabat Mater-Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
O Savior Come-Felix Mendelssohn
Full video of our 2019 Sacred Music Concert for Advent and Christmas
"Whether it is Bach or Mozart that we hear in church, we have a sense in either case of what Gloria Dei, the glory of God, means. The mystery of infinite beauty is there and enables us to experience the presence of God more trulyand vividly than in many sermons."
- Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI -
Important Links
Click here to register your child for our children's choir.
Click here to register for our High School choir.
Sacred Music Events
