We thank J.P. Sonnen, tour operator and history docent with Vancouver-based Orbis Catholicus Travel, for contributing this article.
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Local Catholics will be making their way this August to Saints Joachim and Ann parish in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia to participate in the 2019 BC Sacred Music Symposium. The organizers have announced the dates of this second annual event for August 2-4, 2019. Early registration is open through the website bcsacredmusicsymposium.com.
The launch of the symposium last year drew large crowds, founded in part on a belief that classical liturgical music can appeal to younger audiences. The highest number of participants were the under-40s. This phenomenon is on par with research that shows a clear indication of new listening trends in North America. Some studies show almost half (45 per cent) of young people see classical music as an escape from the noise of modern life.
The new symposium aimed at younger singers is based on more than just a trend. Young participants cited a desire for the sacred, a refuge from the world of noise and static music, seeking worship music that “makes your heart soar,” proving even the oldest of sacred music repertoire still has something meaningful to offer.
The symposium seeks to bring together musicians and faithful of all skill levels and ages to gather for instruction, collaboration, and fellowship. The event includes the opportunity to attend choral workshops and lectures on multiple levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced, professional, and, new this year, chant intensive.
There will be a special emphasis on Gregorian chant. This is because chant serves as a model for the nature, the spirit, and the form of liturgical singing in the Roman Church. Among the ecclesiastically approved ways to set the Latin text to music, chant is the most notable one. While congregational signing is encouraged, singing by the people in the pews has its natural limitations.
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