Sounds from The Sanctuary

Today’s episode features Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Organist and Director of Music at “America’s Parish Church”, St. Patrick’s Cathedral - NYC. A Southern California native, hear how she discovered the pipe organ and has gone on to direct the music for multiple Papal visits and play organ concerts on the world’s great organs - from the great Kilgen of St. Patrick’s, to historic American instruments in Massachusetts, to pipe organs in the Holy Land!

Frank La Rocca is David’s guest on this episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary. His recent composition Mass of the Americas has made him a household name in Catholic music circles. Based off traditional Guadalupe hymns, Mass of the Americas has been performed at major Catholic Cathedrals and churches all around North America, including at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, and, recently, here at our own Christ Cathedral at the request of Bishop Vann for the Diocesan Noche Guadalupana Festival Liturgy. La Rocca tells the story of this beautiful Mass’s origins, augmented by the story of his own journey of faith and music. And in case you missed it, re-watch the livestream of Christ Cathedral’s Mass of the Americas livestream at https://www.christcathedralmusic.org/concerts2526/massoftheamericas

Meet Agatha Teague, Christ Cathedral’s new Associate Organist. David and Agatha chat about Agatha’s background, and her story unfolds from growing up as a congregant at the Crystal Cathedral to being appointed to Associate Organist here at Christ Cathedral. The episode is accompanied by some of Agatha’s favorite music - movements from some of the repertoires beloved choral settings of the Requiem. Discover Agatha’s journey and then finally her play the Hazel Wright Organ bringing this episode to a celebratory conclusion!

Today’s episode from Sounds from the Sanctuary answers a question that our host David Ball fields frequently - how do you pick choral music to enhance our Masses here at Christ Cathedral? In this episode, we listen to music from the first few Sundays of the Choral Season in September and October, and David explains how each piece was chosen to complement and even sometimes match word-for-word the Sacred Scriptural texts assigned to any given Sunday in the Catholic lectionary. Hear a variety of music from Palestrina to Proulx - the Italian Cathedral style to the American Cathedral style.

And Jesus said to Peter, “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”This episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary features music inspired by St. Peter, specifically that exact line from Scripture, as it is from the Gospel reading for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul - which this year 2025 falls on a Sunday. Some of the oldest Christian texts are the Tu Es Petrus quote from scripture and the sacred litany, Christus Vincit, both appropriate for this year’s solemnity, but also in celebration of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. Enjoy musical settings of these medieval texts - from the chanted litany to newly written settings by MacMillan, LaPrairie, and Chepponis, and of course, ending with Virgil Fox’s performance of Thou art the rock on the Hour of Power from our own Arboretum.

Here at Christ Cathedral, we are blessed with the uplifting sounds of the Hazel Wright Organ - the 5th-largest instrument ever constructed. On today’s episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary, we hear recordings from the Wanamaker Organ - the largest instrument in the world - even bigger than Hazel! The Wanamaker Organ was in a Macy’s department store in downtown Philadelphia, but Macy’s has recently closed that store, making it impossible to hear that instrument live. Hopefully, the building’s next owners will support this incredible treasure - the daily concerts from the Wanamaker Grand Court. In the meantime, let’s listen to some recordings of this unique instrument - from the Grand Court Organist himself, Peter Richard Conte; from the greatest organist of the 20th Century, Virgil Fox; and from a young organist recently a guest on Sounds from the Sanctuary, Aaron Patterson.

Everyone who studies music at the college level - violinists, pianists, music historians, theorists, and of course, organists - takes music history as a required course. Inevitably, in the opening weeks of that course, the main topic of discussion is Notre Dame - the great Cathedral of Paris, and the tradition of music that originates from that sacred space centuries upon centuries ago and continues to this day. Some of the oldest written music is from the Cathedral of Notre Dame and it is studied by every serious musician and foundational to western music tradition. In today’s programme, let us listen to the music of the Cathedral of Notre Dame including works by Perotin that are as old at the Cathedral itself, and new improvisations that were made up on the spot by the organists currently upholding the unique traditions of French, Catholic, Sacred Music.

Merry Christmas to all! On this episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary host David Ball curates a playlist of sacred music alternatives to the popular holiday music on the radio. Beginning with the traditional opening carol of Lessons & Carols (Robert Lehman’s The Lord at First Did Adam Make) to classics sung all around the world that bring us together during this most wonderful time of the year including beloved Willcocks arrangements of O Come all Ye Faithful, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

On this episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary, host David Ball is joined by fellow Juilliard Alum Craig Williams. Craig is currently the Organist and Choirmaster at the famed West Point Cadet Chapel, where another of the world’s largest pipe organs is located! He’ll share about his origins growing up in Orange County not far from the Crystal Cathedral, and his current duties at West Point, and his own concert career that takes him all over the world. David and Craig also chat about their experiences at the Juilliard School, and the importance of bringing to life newly written pieces for the organ, keeping pipe organ music alive and relevant!

Hymns are one of the most integral parts of Christian worship all around the world, and in today's episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary, host David Ball gives us a brief introduction various aspects of Hymnody before introducing a playlist of hymns from all different parts of Christianity. Listen to some of the Welch tunes sung at Royal Weddings in Westminster Abbey, a brand-new setting of a hymn by living composer and Church musician Raymond Nagem, and even a hymn sung as a round led by Tom Trenney at the organ! Those who sing, pray twice!

Today’s episode features rising star organist Aaron Patterson, who is visiting Orange County giving a concert at our neighboring community Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods. Also appearing alongside Aaron is Charlotte Hseih - organist at Geneva Church who organizes their yearly concert series that aims to share the beauty of music with Orange County by bringing young talented organists to play their wonderful Wicks organ. Aaron Paterson, today’s young organist, recently graduated from the Juilliard School with a Masters of Music degree after previously attending the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Listen to this bright young talent speak passionately about music, in particular American music, and about his experience attending two of America’s most distinguished conservatories of music. Find out more at aaronpattersonorganist.com

In this episode, Cathedral Organist David Ball takes us through his own personal listening journey exploring the works of composer Maurice Duruflé. Although few works of the composer survive to this day, the ones that are published have all become staples of the choral and organ repertoire as they are music of the highest caliber, and all inspired by the ancient chants of the Catholic Church. Also featured is the Prelude in D by Daniel Ficarri (Cathedral Organist at St. John the Divine, NYC), commissioned by David to pair with one of Duruflé’s Fugues.

In this Episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary, meet Dolores Gomez, life-long church musician, singer, pianist, composer, and especially Christ Cathedral’s new Head of Hispanic Music Ministry. Hear some of Dolores compositions, her singing, and her collaborations with other famed composers of Hispanic liturgical music including Lourdes Montgomery and Peter Kolar. Host David Ball not only welcomes Dolores to Sounds from the Sanctuary but also to the Christ Cathedral Music Staff Family!

Enjoy this exclusive audio from the Organ and Choral Festival in Memory of Dr. Frederick Lewis Swann (1931 – 2022). This portion is part two of a program that was recorded live from Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California in January of 2024. 

Preview the musical selections for the upcoming A CHORAL ADORATION at Christ Cathedral - a solemn evening of sung prayer and reflection that will include Exposition, Adoration, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. As part of the Eucharistic Revival, meditate in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament accompanied by the greatest music of the sacred choral repertoire, previewed in today’s show - Allegri’s Miserere Mei, Tallis’s Spam in Album, and music by American composers Robert Lehman, Jessica French, Ryan Dodge, Kinley Lange, Alexander Pattavina and Moses Hogan. If you find this preview inspiring, find out more at christcathedralmusic.org and join us for this incredible evening on Tuesday, March 5th (2024) at 7:30pm.

Enjoy this exclusive audio from the Organ and Choral Festival in Memory of Dr. Frederick Lewis Swann (1931 – 2022). This was recorded live from Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California in January of 2024.

It is tempting to think that the time between Christmas and Lent - the liturgical season called “Ordinary Time” - would be a time of simple music. In fact, this liturgical season is only called “ordinary” in reference to how the Sundays are counted. The scripture readings for these Sundays speak of Jesus’s journey, preaching, and incredible miracles. So of course, the music inspired by Christ’s teaching and healing is no less extraordinary. Hear some of the stunning choral music of this “ordinary” liturgical season alongside host and Cathedral Organist David Ball. Find out more at ChristCathedralMusic.org

To kick off 2024, host David Ball curates a beautiful playlist of music liturgically appropriate for the month of January. The church begins each year with the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God and continues with Epiphany - the celebration of the gift of the Magi. In today’s episode, we enjoy timeless chants and hymns, music by classical composers Mendelssohn and Max Reger, and wonderful gems by American composers Leo Nestor and Julian Darius Revie. Enjoy the show and find out more about Christ Cathedral’s 2024 music offerings at ChristCathedralMusic.orgTRACKS1 Salve Sancta Parens2 Mary the Dawn3 NESTOR Magnificat4 Mendelssohn There Shall a Star5 REGER Wie Schon6 To Follow a Star 

This beautiful performance was recorded live from Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, on December 15, 2023. Feel free to look up the archived video on the Christ Cathedral Facebook page!ChristCathedralMusic.orghttps://www.facebook.com/ChristCathedralCA/videos/1187097862677608

Sounds from the Sanctuary enters the most wonderful time of the year with this episode - an invitation to Christmas at the Cathedral 2023! Sing along to your favorite sacred Christmas music, meditate on the Incarnation with a gorgeous Magnificat by Leo Nestor, and discover some amazing seasonal music especially for Harp and Children’s Choir. Find out more and reserve your tickets to Friday, December 15th’s Christmas at the Cathedral 2023 by logging on to ChristCathedralMusic.org

Changing Seasons – Fall Choral Music   In today’s episode, Cathedral Organist David Ball brings us into his role as Director of many of the Christ Cathedral’s choirs - open to volunteer singers of all ages and even young singers in grade school who want to learn to sing! With the Fall schedule of choral pieces as a guide, David introduces us to many of the classic pieces in the sacred choral repertoire that the choirs will be singing for liturgies this season at Christ Cathedral - a diverse selection from the Sacred Music repertoire spanning from Palestrina who wrote for the Sistine Chapel hundreds of years ago to a special piece John Rutter composed this past century for his alma mater, Clare College, Cambridge. Meditate with these gorgeous selections and consider singing with us at Christ Cathedral! More info available at ChristCathedralMusic.org

Old Music from France   Journey hundreds of years back in this episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary to the Baroque era of France, and listen to the glorious music of that special time period. Our host and Cathedral Organist David Ball guides us into this sonic experience with a curated playlist of famous recordings of French Baroque music including some tracks played twice, first on a modern instrument and then on a historic, French instrument, for the listener to compare what we typically hear as an organ sound to the sound world of seventeenth century France. The program concludes with one of the most beautiful orchestral works - Ravel's own tribute to the French Baroque tradition - his Tombeau de Couperin.Find out more at ChristCathedralMusic.org

Cathedral organ Scholars in Concert   Tune in to hear the next generation of organists as Christ Cathedral’s own Organ Scholars take the stage and perform on the famed Hazel Wright Organ. These young organists, all students of Cathedral Organist and Head of Music Ministry David Ball, are nationally recognized for their musical achievement. Enjoy their incredible music making and celebrate that the Hazel Wright Organ is already inspiring the future of organ and sacred music! Our organ scholars include Ethan Chow, André Lombardi, Alyce Reynaud and Hubert Tran.Find out more at ChristCathedralMusic.org

Newport Harbor SummerJoining David in the studio today are the musicians from Newport Harbor Lutheran Church - a wonderful community in Newport Beach with a beautiful acoustic and a pipe organ. This summer, the music director Nicholas Galinaitis, is starting a monthly concert series to feature local performers playing music in the church's nave. Also in the studio with them is Kevin Cartwright - the curator for Christ Cathedral's own Hazel Wright Organ - who serves as assisting musician at Newport Harbor Lutheran Church. Music on this episode includes favorites by Rachmaninov, two different versions of Stars and Stripes Forever, and highlights from Dr. Emma Whitten and David Ball playing the Hazel Wright Organ.

David Ball in Concert   Juilliard-trained organist David Ball serves as Cathedral Organist and Head of Music Ministry at Christ Cathedral in the Diocese of Orange, California (formerly the Crystal Cathedral). David completed both the Bachelor and Master of Music at The Juilliard School in New York City, studying under Mr. Paul Jacobs. As part of a wide-ranging musical vision for 21st-century collaboration—a vision cultivated during his time at Juilliard—David is committed to making the “King of Instruments” play well with others.On this very special podcast recording, we are delighted to present David Ball in Concert with the Hazel Wright Organ - Live from Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California!Find out more at ChristCathedralMusic.org

Dr. Emma Whitten in Concert   Emma Whitten is an accomplished organist specializing in early Baroque and contemporary repertoire. She performs across the United States and internationally, captivating audiences and introducing the organ to new listeners. Her programs are engaging and diverse, drawing from an extensive repertoire spanning eight centuries of organ music.Dr. Whitten serves as Associate Organist at Christ Cathedral, where she plays for major liturgies at the Cathedral and accompanies the Diocesan Choir. In celebration of the Dedication Year of the newly-restored Hazel Wright Organ, Emma is recording her debut album, “Hazel Is Back!” to be released on Gothic Records. Emma also acts as Music Coordinator at Church of the Immaculate Conception in San Diego, and she maintains a private teaching studio in Oceanside, California. In Fall 2022, Dr. Whitten joins the faculty of Concordia University Irvine as Adjunct Professor of Organ and Church Music and Interim University Organist. Find out more at ChristCathedralMusic.org

May 2023 Recitals Pt. 1   After the especially sacred seasons of Lent and Holy Week, the Year of Hazel celebrations return in May of 2023 with three concerts every other Wednesday in May! These will feature the "in-house" organists of Christ Cathedral who are normally heard playing major liturgies on the Hazel Wright Organ. Dr. Emma joins Mr. David Ball in the studio today to promote the first of this May series - Dr. Emma Whitten in concert on Wednesday evening, May 3 featuring the famed Prelude and Fugue in g minor by Marcel Dupré in honor of Virgil Fox's birthday, and other new 21st-century compositions by female composers! Find out more and purchase tickets at ChristCathedralMusic.org

Organ Music for Lent  Lent - the weeks in the liturgical calendar leading up to Holy Week, the Triduum, and Easter - is a time of reflection as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection. All too often, though, this season is associated only with a cappella (unaccompanied) choral music. In this episode, we hear instrumental music, specifically organ music, which could be appropriate for thoughtful meditation in the Lenten season. Some pieces explicitly for Lent, such as some chant-based works on Jesu Dulcis Memoria, and others just in their harmonic feel such as Hindemith's second organ sonata.

Interfaith Choral Festival & Prayer Service – Part 2 This year, Christ Cathedral continues to celebrate the return of the famed Hazel Wright Organ. Hazel was heard by millions of viewers around the world and certainly by viewers of all faith traditions. In honor of Hazel's diverse and global viewership, part of this year's Organ Dedication events included an Interfaith Choral Festival, where ministers and clergy from many different traditions came together in a prayer service musically featuring a choir made up of singers from many various faiths accompanied by the Hazel Wright Organ. For this special occasion, the Director and Organist from the largest Christian worship space in this hemisphere - St. John the Divine in NYC, were brought in to lead the music for this service. Christ Cathedral was honored to host this event led by world-renowned choral conductor Mr. Kent Tritle and organist-composer Daniel Ficarri who led the choir through a diverse selection of choral warhorses as well as the West Coast premiere of a new Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Mr. Ficarri himself. Join us over 3 episodes as we listen to this event with commentary from some of its featured participants - Sopranos Lauren McCaul and Alyce Reynaud, and of course our own organist, Mr. David Ball.

Interfaith Choral Festival & Prayer Service – Part 1 Experience a multitude of singers from all faiths coming together to make beautiful music under the direction of Guest Conductor and Clinician Kent Tritle, who serves as director of music and cathedral organist at St. John the Divine in New York. He is also the organist for the New York Philharmonic.He will be joined by St. John the Divine Associate Organist Daniel Ficarri whose piece “Fanfare-Introduction in D” was the first music played on the Hazel Wright Organ in February 2022 after its refurbishment was complete. Built in 1982 in what was originally the Crystal Cathedral, the organ was heard around the world through Reverend Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power” broadcasts.For more information on the Interfaith Choral Festival and Prayer Service, visit christcathedralmusic.org/yearofhazel

Episode No. 34: Enjoy “Part 2” of our very special Christmas at the Cathedral 2022! 

Episode No. 33: Christmas at the Cathedral 2022 – Pt 1 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! Enjoy this two-part show featuring...

Episode No. 32: Franck Fest 2022 – 200 Years of Cesar Franck As we have heard in previous episodes, 2022...

Episode No. 31: Ralph Vaughan Williams 150 This year, 2022, marks the 150th year since the birth of famed composer...

Episode No. 30: Classic Performances on the Hazel Wright Organ HAZEL IS BACK! Cathedral Organist David Ball shares his personal...

Episode No. 29: Children’s Choir Camp On this very special podcast of Sounds from the Sanctuary, you will hear the...

Episode No. 28: Blessing of the Restored Hazel Wright Organ In this episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary, host David...

Episode No. 27: A visit with Kevin Cartwright, Curator for the Hazel Wright Organ   In this episode of Sounds...

Episode No. 26: Spring 2022 Update on the Hazel Wright Organ   For this episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary,...

Episode No. 25: Let There Be Peace on Earth For this episode of Sounds from the Sanctuary, let us all...

Episode No. 24: All Aboard, NPM! The organization for Catholic liturgical musicians, National Pastoral Musicians aka NPM, is coming to...

Episode No. 20: The Church Music of Autumn Fall is a beautiful season – the beginning of the academic and...

Episode No. 19: Michael Bower, Cathedral Organist Legendary Cathedral Organist Michael Bower joins David Ball as a grand finale to...

Episode No. 17: Rebecca Ehren, Yale Organ Student The American Guild of Organists has declared this year as the “Year...

Episode No. 16: Local Organist Norberto Guinaldo Argentinian-born Norberto Guinaldo is one of the most recognized composers, organists, and church...

Episode No. 15: An Episode for Springtime Springtime is a time of celebration – the end of the Academic year,...

Episode No. 14: A Choral Scholar’s Covid Easter In the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Triduum and Easter services...

Episode No. 13: Renaissance Man Thompson Howell Renaissance man Thompson Howell joins us on Sounds from the Sanctuary to discuss...

Episode No. 12: Amplify Female Composers    In the midst of the COVID pandemic, acclaimed organists and church musicians Janet...

Episode No. 11: The Journey of Lent    “If you want a great Easter, you have to have a great...