Morning Light, the first album in more than 20 years
by
the St. Louis Jesuits, is out and available on CD.
Considered among the originators of the second
generation of contemporary American liturgical music, the
St. Louis Jesuits came to prominence in the 1970s with such
songs as “Lift Up Your Hearts,” “Here I Am, Lord,” “One
Bread, One Body,” and “Be Not Afraid.” Singer-songwriters
Fr. Bob Dufford, SJ, Fr. Robert “Roc” O’Connor, SJ,
Dan Schutte, and Fr. John Foley,
SJ make up the current group
whose roots go back to when all
were involved in philosophy or
theology studies at Saint Louis
University during their Jesuit
formation. Tim Manion and Fr.
John Kavanaugh, SJ, who
is an ethicist and professor of
philosophy at the university,
contributed to their first recording
project, Neither Silver Nor Gold,
in 1973.
They began forming in the wake
of the Second Vatican Council,
which encouraged church songs to be sung in English and
accompanied by popular instruments. “The early 1970s
witnessed a unique confluence in St. Louis of so many
people coming together at about the same time who had
incredible musical talent and creativity,” says O’Connor,
now a theology professor and liturgist at Creighton
University. “Five of us came together to form a group and
to continue to compose music for the Church’s liturgy.”
The St. Louis Jesuits began discussing the idea of
a new
album in 2000 when, at the
invitation of the Oregon
Catholic Press, they agreed to
sing “City of God” together
at the National Association of
Pastoral Musicians conference
in Washington, D.C.
“That was the first time
we had sung together since
recording in 1984,” says O’Connor. “The whole experience
was great. People went wild, but more significant than that
was the consolation of actually singing together again.”
 |
| The St. Louis Jesuits
(from left): Fr. Bob Dufford, SJ,
Fr. Robert “Roc” O’Connor, SJ,
Fr. John Foley, SJ, and
Dan Schutte. |
Naturally, the event raised the question of a larger
reunion. Given their hectic schedules and diverse works
and ministries, however, getting together to discuss the
idea was more difficult than anticipated. Fr. Dufford is
musical liturgist and a
retreat director at the
Jesuit Oshkosh Retreat
House. Schutte is
composer in residence
at the University of San
Francisco and director
of music for the Office
of University Ministries.
Fr. Foley is a theology
professor and director
of the Center for
Liturgy at Saint Louis
University.
In 2003 they met
in San Francisco and
discussed the reunion “
in a desire to respond
to the grace of playing
together and contribute
to contemporary
liturgical music,” says O’Connor. “If we were going
to do it,
we wanted it to be a statement of hope for the continued
maturing of the Vatican II liturgy. ”
“The album is well worth the wait,” says
Erin Nieves,
director of marketing and sales for Oregon Catholic Press,
which produced the CD. “The disk features 12 newly written
songs, three by each member of the current group. It’s a
collection that proves they still have that uncanny ability
to
set scripture-based texts to beautiful, accessible, innovative
melodies that fit and enhance the liturgy while touching
the
hearts of today’s worshipers. With performances in a variety
of styles from traditional hymns to rock , there is something
for everyone and all musical tastes in this material. ”
All four men perform the vocals along with a chorus
and a range of instrumentation that includes mostly piano
and guitar but is augmented by flutes, drums, oboes, and
other strings.
Morning Light lists for $15.95 and is available at
many
Catholic book and gift stores and on the web at several sites
including the Oregon Catholic Press website. Go to www.
ocp.org and type Morning Light in the search field. To order
it by phone call toll-free, 1-800-548-8749.
Oregon Press has also prepared a new book about the
group
titled The St. Louis Jesuits: Thirty Years that is also available
through their website and by phone. Printed on highquality
glossy paper with historical text and dozens of color
photographs, it is being promoted as “a collector’s edition
coffee table book” that tells “the uplifting story of the
St. Louis
Jesuits and the music of hope that is their legacy.”
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