The Catholic Church looms large in the history of Western art music, and why shouldn’t it? The church is responsible for written music notation, some of the earliest codified harmony, and of course polyphony and counterpoint.
It all goes back to Gregorian chant, and the monks who sang low on one melody line during worship more than 1,000 years ago. As music in the church progressed over the centuries, the liturgy allowed for more parts, more notes, and the choir was born.
Today, choir music is still an important part of Catholic worship, St. Louis de Montfort Rectory Assistant Patricia Zumbro told the Sun. The church will host a special choir concert featuring Maîtrise des Hauts de France, or the French Boys’ Choir, on July 28 in the sanctuary.
“Music is part of our liturgy,” Zumbro said. “It’s all wrapped up in our mass and how we celebrate mass.”
St. Louis de Montfort is the Catholic Church in Orcutt, which includes some form of music at most worship sessions, Zumbro said.
A lot of that music comes from the church’s priest, Father Aidan Peter Rossiter, Zumbro said. Rossiter is an organist and longtime singer himself, she said, and bringing groups like the French Boys’ Choir for special performances outside of worship services is important to him as well.
“He absolutely loves music and loves for other people to be involved in that,” she said. “He was very excited about being able to bring [the French Boys’ Choir] to our parish and offer it to everyone, our community, as well, free of charge.”
The French Boys’ Choir is open to everyone, no matter their faith or background, Zumbro explained. It’s all part of Father Rossiter’s dedication to reaching out to the community, she said.
Rossiter is currently out of the county, she said, but his return will coincide with the arrival of the traveling ensemble. The sound of the choir along with the church’s organ is something that’s sure to resonate within the sanctuary and listeners’ hearts, Zumbro said.
“It’s one of those things that just fills you up, it will be that kind of experience for people,” she said. “[The choir] will be in front and the organ in the back. I’m excited, I haven’t even heard them yet, but I’m excited.”
The choir includes 32 members, all boys ranging in age from 8 to 17 years, Zumbro said. The group has performed throughout Europe and North America, she explained, and has performed at the Whitehouse and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Traditionally, Catholic boys’ choirs feature the youngest vocalists singing the highest parts, like the soprano line. The older boys, many whose voices have changed, sing the deeper tenor and bass lines.
The choristers will be treated to a Santa Maria-style picnic lunch and will also get to stay with parishioner families, Zumbro said.
“They’ll get a little flavor of the Santa Maria home lifestyle,” she said.
The concert on July 28 is open to everyone, Zumbro said, whether they come to just listen or worship as well.
“For me, it’s an integral part of worship,” she said. “It involves me on a different level. Music just touches you and brings out another part of you, and I know Father Aidan recognizes that.”
Managing Editor Joe Payne has sung mass in a choir before. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jul 20-27, 2017.