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Ministries

Traditional Choir

Welcome to the Home Page of The SMT Traditional Choir

We are located in Brentwood (Los Angeles), California, and are directed by Rick Wilkinson. We are a small and efficient chamber choir that sings the finest music from the Church's spiritual, robust, and long tradition. We focus on chant, in its various forms, and music inspired by chant. We are particularly recognized for our repertoire of Roman music of the counter-reformation period (Palestrina, Victoria, etc.) We also love the many genres and styles of liturgical music that has followed to this day to fully appreciate the wealth of our tradition.

Gregorian Chant, the primary music of the Church, is revered by St. Martin of Tours' traditional music program. As organ is the instrument of the church, it is used as the principal accompanying instrument for our traditional music program. Emphasis on Gregorian Chant, and organ accompaniment is in keeping with the wishes and instructions of our Holy Father Benedict XVI. This emphasis has also has been recently reiterated by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. Additionally, to promote unity among the scores of languages currently spoken on Earth, and to preserve and promote the ancient tradition of Holy Mother The Church, we frequently sing in Latin, the universal language of the Church.

We invite you to consider joining us. Our choir is made up of people from a wide variety of careers and backgrounds, and we are fortunate to have core of highly-trained, professional singers to add to and support our volunteers. All of us have a deep life-long love of sacred choral music, and we greatly enjoy what we do: both the practicing, and the performing. Those who like to sing, may have sung before (school, college, other choirs), listen to classical music regularly, may have some music reading experience, and/or may have had experience playing an instrument are especially invited to join us. Those newer to choral music will find that the journey is long, but satisfyingly new skills develop in you week by week; very similar indeed to our life-long spiritual growth. Please call me anytime for additional information, or to introduce yourself and say hello. ***As with most American choirs, TENORS and BASSES are especially needed***

All Are Welcome! Our choir is made up of individuals from many faith traditions, and those that do not follow a faith tradition. We value all our members regardless of religious affiliation, or not. Each member is a vital building block in the musical product we are constructing. Choirs from other denominations have made guest appearances at St. Martin of Tours, And, members of our choir have participated in inter-faith services. Our Easter Vigil last year was joined by a talented choir from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) in Long Beach, and members of our traditional choir participated in the San Fernando Valley 9/11 Memorial Concert and new facility premier hosted by Temple Judea in Tarzana, with members of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony playing.

Choral music is a rare human activity in which the result can be much, much greater than the sum of its parts. It soothes the spirit and is therapeutic for the body. Beautiful music can bring us closer to God than through any other activity except for prayer. Our devoted members spend many hours preparing this music. We work in musical and spiritual harmony together to provide music here at St. Martin of Tours that truly illuminated the Sacred Liturgy. This is more than just a choir; we are a ministry devoted to bring others closer to The Lord, Jesus Christ.

My contact information is:

Rick Wilkinson
Music Director
Principal Organist/Cantor
(213) 220-7350
savedbybass@aol.com

CURRENT SEASON

The Traditional Choir will sing on the five Sundays of Lent at the 10:30 AM mass.

On Palm Sunday April 1, 2012. The Traditional Choir will be joined by the Contemporary Choir for a special traditional choral mass at 11AM.

Good Friday April 6, 2012. Services will begin at 12 Noon, with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, sung by the assembly and choir. It will be followed by silent prayer as the Seven Last Words of Christ are sung by the choir. (Stations of the Cross will follow at 1PM.) The Traditional Roman-style Good Friday Liturgy will begin at 2PM. It will feature the singing of the St. John Passion by William Byrd, and The Reproaches, during the Veneration of the Cross by Tomas Luis de Victoria.

Easter Vigil Saturday, April 7, 2012. This is the most important service of the liturgical year! It begins at sunset (7:30 PM). This mass features the rites of Baptism and Confirmation for those joining the Roman Catholic Church. It is stepped in meaningful and beautiful rites, readings and music, and will be accompanied by the Traditional Choir joined by the choir from the Mormon community in Santa Monica. Music will include a wide spectrum of traditional hymns, service music,and choral selections including selections from Handel's beloved and timeless "Messiah." This service will also feature music from our own American spiritual/gospel tradition. Everyone in our community is invited to experience these profound rites and beautiful music. Reception follows in the Parish Center.

Easter Sunday Mass 11AM. He is Risen! Bring your families, friends, and neighbors to worship with us. Alleluia!


After Easter/Spring Break, the choir will sing at the 10:30 AM mass on Sundays as follows:

May 6
May 13 (Mothers' Day)
May 20 Ascension of the Lord
May 27 Pentecost
June 3 Most Holy Trinity
June 10 Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

After Corpus Christi, the choir will observe summer vacation and will return after Labor Day.

During Easter/spring break and summer vacation, the 10:30 AM mass will feature cantor(s) and organ with familiar traditional hymns and service music.

BASIC SCHEDULE

When we are in session, choir practice is on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 PM in the church. We encourage regular attendance as our musical selections must be rehearsed several weeks in advance, especially around Christmas and Easter. (We observe a short winter and spring break, and summer vacation after Corpus Christi through Labor Day.

The choir gathers in the parish center or school music room, as announced/posted, at 9:30 AM on Sunday to prepare for our 10:30 AM Sunday mass.

CHOIR LEADERSHIP

Choral Accompanist/Organist: Coleen Thatcher
Soprano Section Leader: Kaylie Ann Warfield
Alto Section Leader: Jackie Hayes, MM
Tenor Section Leader: A. J. Teshin
Bass Section Leader: Donald Caldwell, DMA
Choir Coordinator: Christina Conkle christina@conkle.org (310) 820-3700. Christina is also available to answer your questions and introduce you to our group.
Librarian Emeritus: Francis Vella

MUSIC RESOURCES

We are blessed to have a fine organ, built by the Walker Organ Company, here at St. Martin of Tours. The instrument has three manuals, five divisions, and features an array of beautiful solo and ensemble stops. The organ's windblown pipe work is supported by state-of-the-art digital technology. The organ is approximately seventy ranks.

Please enjoy our beautiful carillon before and after services.

Our fine music library is surely the envy of any small university. My predecessors, working closely with our pastor emeritus Msgr. O'Leary have seen to it that we have a fine legacy of traditional selections to complement the Sacred Liturgy. We are especially proud of our collection of renaissance/counter-reformation music.