Singing Through the Separation

Ave Maria!

Hello dear friends!  I'm here today to share with you a project I have been working on in quarantine.  I originally wrote a similar post for Corpus Christi Watershed but wanted to share our story with you here as well.  It has been a joy and honor working with these fine musicians and friends, singing through the separation.

The Story of the Brébeuf Virtual Choir

For the last four years, I have been blessed to be able to attend Corpus Christi Watershed’s annual Sacred Music Symposium. This music conference is always filled with heavenly music, lots of great instruction, and fellowship to treasure. I have made lasting friendships with so many of the participants from across the country and even different parts of the world. We have kept in touch over group chats. This year, due to the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, the annual symposium was canceled. We were all saddened but this did not discourage us in our music-making. We have all been stuck at home away from our choirs and parish families so we have had a lot of free time on our hands and missed singing very much. So one day, one of the chat members, Miss Sarah Decker, suggested putting together a virtual choir recording. Almost all of the members delightedly jumped on the idea and in just over a week, we put together a polyphonic motet video.
We chose Kevin Allen’s Ave Maria, which was composed for and debuted at Fr. Luc Poirier, FSSP’s First Mass during the Sacred Music Symposium 2019. The members of the virtual choir thought it very fitting to honor our blessed mother Mary in the month of May. We hope that this piece will lift souls towards Heaven and aid in Marian devotion. Most of the project participants had learned and performed Allen’s Ave Maria under the direction of the composer himself at last year’s Symposium. Some, however, did not attend last year, but in years prior and therefore, did not know the piece. Nevertheless, these talented singers arose to the occasion, learning and recording their parts in a matter of days. Miss Phoebe Wing graciously created MIDI files for the singers so they could all keep together. Dr. Henrique Coe, assisted by Mr. John Rigney, edited and compiled the audio and video. All of the members worked wonderfully together to make this project a success.

During the process, Mr. Christian Ryan decided the virtual choir group needed a name. Ideas were thrown around, but the members did not take long in deciding on the name “Brébeuf Virtual Choir” under the patronage of St. John de Brébeuf. A logo was zealously drafted by Mr. Francisco Elias Duran and Miss Bernadette Rigney. The Latin quote on our logo comes from the first line of the Introit for the feast of St. Issac Jogues, John de Brébeuf and Companions;

“These are they who are come out of great tribulation...” 

 This line also seems fitting since this music has come out of great tribulation amid the current pandemic. Even though these days are not as bleak as those of the Jesuit Martyrs, the members of this choir take inspiration from St. Jean de Brébeuf and his companions in their valiant suffering and courageous carrying of the cross. The mission of the Brébeuf Virtual Choir is to promote Sacred Music especially during this time when many are deprived of it. All the members have been blessed to work together and record these beautiful pieces of sacred music. They hope this music blesses those who hear it just as much! The Brébeuf Virtual Choir plans on recording and releasing more videos so please stay tuned!

Abendlied, a German hymn by Josef Rheinberger, was our second release:

"Bide with us, for evening shadows darken; And the day will soon be over, soon be over, O bide with us, for evening shadows darken."

All of the members of the Brébeuf Virtual Choir would like to thank all the faculty and staff of the annual Sacred Music Symposium for their hard work, dedication, and inspiration. Without this event, the members of the virtual choir may never have met! Even though the event had to be canceled this year, they look forward to next year’s Symposium!

You can follow the BVC on YouTube and Facebook.

Our latest release was just recorded last night by 4 of our very talented men.  Please enjoy this Veni Creator for the Octave of Pentecost!

I'm so thankful to be able to create beautiful music for God in these trying and uncertain times.  I hope you are blessed by it.  I would also like to encourage you to do what makes your heart sing!!  What does that look like for you?

May Our Lady and the Holy Ghost bless and protect you and your loved ones!! 🔥🕊🙏💗