Home of Organist, Improviser, and Composer Benjamin Cornelius-Bates
Happy Advent! One of the great things about the Advent/Christmas season is that there is so much good music. Even the propers are, in some way, exceptional to the average chants. It particular are the chants for the First Sunday of Advent. This communion chant sets Psalm 85(84):13 where the Lord brings forth the earth’s fruits. And hopefully, I have represented that well, especially with a fairly think registration.
There are certain, presiders, that like to keep things moving. What’s funny about this particular improvisation, during the communion procession, is that there was a Eucharistic minister serving the wine that took longer than the rest of the ministers. From my vantage point, I didn’t notice this. That caused me to tack on an extra coda ending as the priest was waiting for things to move on. I have often thought that this sort of improvisation is all about how to extend an ending. It is an art to make an ending not sound like an ending.
At this particular vigil Mass, I was afforded the opportunity to do a larger improvisation than I do at the Monday Novena Masses. It was SO nice to have more time to flesh out the ideas, where as the Monday Novenas are an exercise in getting as much in there as quickly as possible. The text of the chant comes from Acts 2 (not Psalm 15) and says:
You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.
My idea was to recreate that impression with a “path” and the presence of God through the numerous voices. Next time, I may explore an idea such as that through form. I kept the form rather simple (ABA1), as there isn’t always time to do larger forms. And frankly, the textures offered enough exploration.
Today, I present two improvisations 0n the same chant and text. One of the nice things about playing two Masses on Monday is I get to have multiple chances to improvise on the same tunes. Interestingly, this is a Marian memorial and includes an Ave Maria, an improvisation that I wasn’t totally happy with for either Mass. But, the communions both allowed me to do some interesting impressions about flowers and fragrances. The translation of from the book of Sirach is as follows:
Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.
It’s always interesting to compare how things turn out, especially since my mood changes from the morning, 10 AM, to the late afternoon, 5:30 PM (I’ve had coffee or now I’m almost home for dinner).
This week’s improvisation involved an excellent chant text. “Super flumina Babylonis” means “by the waters of Babylon.” Knowing that piece of information, I tried incorporate a water-like texture based on the chant in very quick succession before introducing the chant in shorter tones. One of the great challenges of improvising in a liturgical setting is to somehow time the form; it’s usually some kind of two part form for the short length of time at the Monastery for the Monday Novena Masses. When you get to the end, you’ll note the rather abrupt ending. Sometimes it works out perfectly, sometimes it doesn’t.
The organ is back! Finally! So let’s celebrate with a fugue!
It took about three, four months for it to be fixed for a variety of reasons, I’m just glad to play it again. And on a great day too – the Passionists celebrated the Sorrowful Mother and that always means good music. I had some other, more colorful improvisations, but I felt that this one represented the most complex form while being successful.
In te speravi, the Offertory proper for the 19th Sunday in ordinary time, is a text from Psalm 30:15-16 and is a little piece I wrote the night before it was performed. I wanted something Renaissance-like, but with a few modern harmonies that I like. It’s short, sweet, and followed by a fugal improvisation on the piano. (Someday, the organ will be fixed…)
An editorial note: I originally filmed this, but I didn’t position the camera well and it didn’t look very flattering to John, my cantor, and myself. So I extracted the audio from the video file. There is also a change in the EQ between the singing and the piano to make each part sound better.
Lastly, I was mentioning to our presider at the liturgy that I had whipped out the piece the night before. John followed that with, “the only thing I whip out is ice cream.” Now I will think of ice cream every time this piece is done. Hilarious.
I’m back from vacation! Just about every summer, my family and I go back to Montana and visit my in-laws. It’s a regular pilgrimage for us as we Western types need to see MOUNTAINS once in a while. There’s a trailhead about 6 blocks from my in-laws home and I was up it the nearly the moment we got there. What can I say, I see a mountain, I want to be on top of it.
Well, for more news on the organ, the motor is unfixable and I’m still stuck with the piano for now. Hopefully the organ will be up and running before September and the return of the choir. But in the mean time, I have this very nice improv from yesterday’s Mass. I usually edit the film to only include the improvisation, but I thought it was rather neat that Fr. Edwin read the proper immediately as I finished. Perfect timing for both of us. Fr. Edwin is also a fantastic tenor and we always work well together. I only had a Liber Usualis in front of me so the proper for Communion is from the proper for a virgin that’s not a martyr.
Also, I included me rolling up my sleeves because it’s funny and I don’t even remember doing that.
Right. So the organ blower motor is still kaput. Then what does one improvise without an organ, particularly since one is an organist improviser? Well, use the grand piano of course. Now, to make things very clear, I will not claim to be a great pianist. But I have enjoyed doing more pianistic things while improvising in a somewhat French style.
I have to admit though, I think I have improvised better than this (and didn’t record). But this particular improvisation is based on a unique theme. As I work at a Passionist Monastery, they have their own propers for their own feasts. This day is the Feast of the Precious Blood of Christ. The readings are from the Passion narrative and focus on the spear piercing Jesus’ side. If you look closely at the video, you might note that I’m using an old LIBER USUALIS. It contains chants unique to St. Paul of the Cross that the new Gregorian Missal (or Romanum) does not include.
It is with great pleasure that the CD, “Music at the Monastery” has been released. The CD is a compilation of music for the Passion of Jesus Christ, containing mostly compositions by me (this may seem a bit self-serving, but it does help avoid the whole copyright issue). This particular piece is my setting of the Ubi Caritas, a setting I like to call the “poor-man’s Duruflé.” When you listen to it, you’ll get the idea and why I like to call it that.
I want to note that I haven’t made any posts recently because the organ at the Monastery is down for the count! It’s a simple electrical problem, but it’s meant a couple of weeks of improvising on the piano. Not NEARLY as exciting as what I like to do, but has given me a chance to try out some rather Debussy-esque music.