Join me in thanking God for the life and music of Flor Peeters.
More than the music of anyone else, his liturgical music has shaped my heart. I was forever changed by the opportunity to direct my fellow seminarians in his Mass to honor Our Lady Queen of Peace when I was just fifteen years old. If I had to choose just one piece to hint at what I am trying to say, it would be the Agnus Dei of this Mass.
Perhaps those who love his music will contribute to this discussion.
I love his music and still use it often. When I was a teenager - I have told this story before - he was friends with a local Episcopal organist/choirmaster and would visit my city from time to time. When he was here, he held master classes open to all who were interested. I didn't realize at the time his stature as a composer but have been grateful for those classes ever since.
He and Charles Tournemire were great friends. Tournemire gave him Cesar Franck's console from Ste. Clotilde before his death. The organ console now sits in Liege. You can see it. Tournemire dedicated some of l'Orgue Mystique to Peeters. Peeters recorded some of LOM and one can find these recordings on YouTube. Peeters was a marvelous musician and by all accounts from those who knew him, a gracious soul. Tournemire spoke rather highly of him, which was unusual for Tournemire to speak of anyone very highly. I have some copies of letters exchanged by them.
We used the SATB Mass in Honor of St Joseph and SATB Mass in Honor of St John the Baptist. We also used his Ave Maria and I--as the organist/director--would often pull out his "Miniatures for Organ'.
First off: all these are well within the capacity of a typical church choir. You do not need a flock of trained vocalists to pull these off. They are also well within the capacity of a reasonably-good organist, high-school age or up.
Secondly, Peeter's ability to illuminate the text with the music is amazing. You can sing (and I have) the music of Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Durufle, (etc.) and not find better in that regard than Peeters. (Perhaps Britten's War Requiem is better--but he got to use a full orchestra, too...) His music is a sort of musico-theological Master's course for the musicians.
Given the chance, I'd train ANY choir, ANY day, in those pieces again.
Wow, Flor Peeters ... where to start ? In 1979 I began as chorister at the Antwerp Cathedral Boyschoir. The choirmaster was reverend Jan Schrooten, a former pupil of Flor Peeters. We sang his music regularly at the cathedral and on tour. His 'ego sum panis vivus' is astonishing ! Of course we sang his masses as well. I love his Missa Festiva. I had the honour of singing that mass at the Cathedral in Mechelen with Flor Peeters himself at the organ. Afterwards, I asked him to sign my score. He first wrote Peeters, saying 'this is the Prelude' and then he wrote Flor, saying 'and this the Fugue'. I still treasure this score. I am happy to see choirs abroad singing his music. Alas, a new choirmaster at the Cathedral hasn't programmed any of his music since 2000.
Yes, I am a fan...let's not forget all those wonderful organ works....I have played dozens of his wonderful hymn preludes, and I especially love his "Prelude and Fugue" on Ave Maris Stella" Let us be thankful.
I am extremely fond of his many chorale preludes, the melancholy-inducing "Aria," and his simple but majestic "Postludium.". The "Postludium" is hidden in some random Oxford collection of music for manuals only. It is a perfect closing voluntary, particularly in a smaller space as it lasts about a minute!!
Chorale Prelude on "Ut quaeant laxis," Op. 76, No. 9
Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei from Missa Laudis
Aria, Op. 51
Trumpet Tune, Op. 116, No. 6
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Leawood, Kansas Fr. Shawn Tunink, celebrant Capella Vocalis Michaeliensis, choir Dr. Kevin Vogt, organist-choirmaster
A bonus to the preceding experience was that after Mass I spoke with a local woman attending who was in Flor Peeter's organ class as a Fulbright student along with Fr. Gerard Farrell, OSB.
Reminded me of the time I organized a concert in the mid-1990s at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, MN, featuring the Vierne Messe Solennelle (Richard Proulx, guest conductor). A gentleman approached me after the concert and asked if I was familiar with Alexander Schreiner's arrangement of the Vierne Kyrie as a "Maestoso in C-sharp minor." I replied that I was, and that Schreiner's recording of the same was the very first LP recording of organ music that I owned. He paused, and appearing pleased that I had appreciated the Schreiner recording, replied, "Alexander Schreiner was my father."
I'm off the Flor Peeters topic, I know. Very grateful for your post, Dr. Ford. I join you in thanking God.
My choir regularly used his Mass in Honor of St Joseph, and pulled out the St John/Baptist for Easter and Christmas.
Responsible for wedding music? Have a good female singer? Look at his "Wedding Song" with lyrics from Esther (Whither thou goest, I shall also....) Marvelous Peeters melody and accompaniment scheme, as usual.
I have searched and search, particularly for any of Peeter's choral music, but it seems there is so little available. Can anyone point me int he right direction................or, if out of print, anyone have scans of it?
I hope that, someday soon, his choral music will get more exposure in this country. I love it, but it seems an acquired taste for many. I ordered most of his organ oeuvre for "quaranpractice", but it didn't show up until late May! That said, fun pieces and very usable. RIP.
I got a lot of his choral music. At Antwerp Cathedral we sang a lot of it. I even sung his Missa Festiva with him playing the organ. When after mass I asked him to dedicate my score, he first signed with Peeters and said 'this is the Prelude' and then Flor and said 'this is the Fuga'.
Good morning, all. I have been searching for several choral works by Flor Peeters that are unfortunately rather difficult to locate and I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction.
The first piece is Ave Verum Corpus, which I believe was most recently published by National Music Publishers and now seems to be out of print. You can still search it on JW Pepper and even order it but it is backlogged. I tried to order and after a few weeks they canceled.
Secondly, I've been searching for the collection of motets in Op. 9 (these include Ego sum panis, Tantum ergo, Ave maria). I've been searching by piece title but am having trouble ordering, but I'm wondering if they are published in a collection (ex. Four motets or something of that sort).
Any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated- I'm always so grateful for this forum! Many thanks, Chaz
Tantum Ergo is #74 in the Pius X Hymnal (pp 82-83 in the organ/choir version) edited by Theodore Marier, possibly the most influential hymnal from and for American Catholics in the period after World War II and before Vatican II. (The hymnal also has Sub Tuum Praesidium by Peeters.)
July 4 is also the day Sister (Mother) Mary Alexis Donnelly, R.S.M., died in 1936. She was a prolific composer of sacred music who compiled three widely used hymnals, which were published by J. Fisher Bros. of New York. In addition, her compositions appeared as individual song sheets and in "hymn pamphlets," published by McLaughlin & Reilly Co. of Boston. Her name does not appear on any of her music, as was customary in Catholic religious orders prior to Vatican II, but merely states "By a Sister of Mercy." Mother Alexis was Reverend Mother of the Providence, RI, community of Sisters of Mercy from 1910 to 1916.
Willowhayne Records of England is offering a CD of Peeters' choral music featuring the Missa Festiva, along with the Mass IHO St Joseph, the Ave, and a few other offerings. About $25. USD shipped.
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