Schola Clementi enjoys a national and international reputation as one of the finest Catholic church choirs in the United States. The choir has been consistently hailed for its precision and vigor as well as its musical maturity. The choir brings this high level of musicianship first and foremost to its weekly ministry, singing the great choral treasures of the Church — from Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony through the most contemporary repertoire of the new millennium — at the 11:15am Sunday liturgy, October through May. The choir is well known for its previous performances of Handel's
Messiah with chorus, soloists, and an orchestra of period instruments. The choir's recording of the Mozart
Requiem is featured on the soundtrack for 1998's critically acclaimed film
Happiness, directed by Todd Solondz and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Schola Clementi has toured Europe twice in recent years (see the links on the right for more information about the places in which the choir has sung). In 2005 the choir sang for the National Convention of the Knights of Columbus, and in the summer of 2006 the choir performed two formal concerts for the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists (
see reviews here). The choir is comprised mostly of non-professional singers, the majority of whom are active Saint Clement parishioners. Choir members maintain a rigorous schedule of midweek and Sunday morning rehearsals from September through May, and in addition to an expansive repertoire, they are provided regular training in vocal techniques, sightreading, and solfège. Rehearsals of the Schola Clementi take place in the music office (above the church sacristy) on Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm to 9:15pm, and on Sunday mornings from 10:00am to 11:00am. Membership is open to all interested singers by audition. Please email
Paul Nicholson, Director of Music, to schedule an audition at your convenience. New members are always welcome!
Listen to Schola Clementi —
• all sound clips recorded live during liturgies or concerts — unedited
• recorded in Saint Clement Church, Chicago, unless noted otherwise
• even more recordings online soon!
Gregorian Chant
Viri Galilaei
Factus est repente
Gustate et videte
Music of the 16th Century
Orlando di Lasso:
Ave verum corpus (1582)
6vv
Luca Marenzio:
Tribus miraculis (1585)
4vv
Luca Marenzio:
O rex gloriae (1585)
4vv
William Byrd:
Haec dies (1591)
6vv
Music of the 17th Century
Gregor Aichinger:
Factus est repente (1606)
4vv
Peter Philips:
Ascendit Deus (1612)
5vv
Music of the 18th Century
Handel:
Messiah (excerpts) (1742) —
Sinfonia
And the glory of the Lord
And he shall purify
For unto us a child is born
Glory to God
The Lord gave the word
Their sound is gone out
Hallelujah
Since by man came death
Worthy Is the Lamb / Blessing and Honor / Amen
Mozart:
Ave verum corpus (1791)
Mozart:
Requiem (excerpts) (1791) —
Introit and Kyrie
Dies Irae
Domine Jesu Christe
Haydn:
Te Deum (1799)
Music of the 19th Century
Gabriel Fauré:
Ecce fidelis servus (1893)
Gabriel Fauré:
Requiem (complete) (1893) —
Introit and Kyrie
Offertory
Sanctus
Pie Jesu
Agnus Dei
Libera me
In Paradisum
Music of the 20th Century
Pierre Villette:
Hymne à la Vierge (1954)
8vv
Pierre Villette:
O salutaris hostia (1954)
7vv
Franz Biebl:
Ave Maria (1964)
7vv
Trond Kverno:
Ave maris stella (1976)
6vv
Colin Mawby:
Ave verum corpus (1978)
8vv
Joel Martinson:
There Is No Rose (1988)
4vv
Pierre Villette:
O quam amabilis (1992)
8vv
Leo Nestor:
The Call (1995)
6vv
Leo Nestor:
Arise and Shine, Jerusalem (1998)
4vv
Richard Proulx:
We Adore You, O Christ (1998)
4vv
Music of the 21st Century
Anthony Doherty:
O Taste and See (2001) 4vv
Barrie Cabena:
The Day of Pentecost (2004) 4vv
Matthew Kelly:
The Lamb (2005) 2vv
Leo Nestor:
O be joyful in the Lord (2006)
4vv
African-American Spirituals
Ain’a that Good News — William Dawson (1937)
4vv
Deep River — arr. Gerre Hancock (1985)
8vv
Were You There? — arr. Leo Nestor (2003)
5vv
