Print Issue: December 12, 2002

Soaring Sounds Of St. Joseph's Chancel Choir To Help Needy Children

The peacefulness of the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy is reflected in the CD, "Echoes of the Faithful," recorded by the St. Joseph's Church Chancel Choir. The 35-member choir was allowed to record in the famous basilica after all tourists had left for the day. Net proceeds from the CD will go toward the Franciscan mission for needy children.

By Rebecca Rakoczy, Staff Writer

MARIETTA - Creating heavenly music for a practical purpose - caring for the impoverished children of the world - the St. Joseph's Chancel Choir seeks to raise $1 million from sales of their CD for an international Franciscan mission for needy children.

It's a mission that has taken this volunteer choir of educators, computer experts, doctors, sales managers and housewives to Assisi, Italy, to record beneath the ancient frescos of the Basilica of St. Francis.

The CD is not the first effort for this choir, who first produced a Christmas CD in 1997. But the all-Latin a cappella recording was definitely a labor of love for the 37-member group, said choir director Martha Trimbach.

Two years ago, the choir began working on a CD that would be used to raise money for needy children throughout the world through the Franciscans of Assisi, Italy. Pope John Paul II sent a blessing to the choir, and a quote for the CD that reflected his own concern for the suffering of children.

Under Trimbach's direction, they practiced long hours to learn the difficult Latin a cappella pieces that would make up their recording.

After more than a year of rehearsals, the choir traveled to Assisi to record in the Basilica of St. Francis. The group was allowed special access to record for three nights in the 1250 A.D. basilica after all tourists had left, and their voices reverberated beneath its ancient frescoes. Returning to Marietta, post-production was done in Atlanta.

The result is the "Echoes of the Faithful" CD, a 15-song recording of a cappella Latin choral music first composed in the 16th and 17th centuries, covering the spectrum of Christ's life from birth through the resurrection. The title reflects the late night serenity that the choir felt as their voices echoed through the shadowed halls of the ancient basilica, Trimbach said.

The music was composed during the post-Reformation period for the Catholic Church.

"The (musical) body of the CD is the life of Christ - from birth through his missions and his death and resurrection," said Trimbach.

Some of these pieces include Giovanni de Palestrina's, "Adoramus te," "Ave Maria," "O bone Jesu," and "Loquebantur varlis Apostoli"; as well as Tomas Luis de Victoria's "Hosanna Filio David." The CD ends with the Gregorian chant composition of "Ave Maria."

Singing the Latin music has been very rewarding for the choir, although it was hard work, Trimbach said. "When you hear the Gregorian chants and Latin music sung, you can see how the church has given us this blessing (of music)," she said.

The CDs are $15, and can be purchased by check through St. Joseph Church, (770) 422-1148, Notre Dame Bookstore, 5273A Buford Highway in the Pinetree Plaza, (770) 458-1779; Mary's Garden, 2745 Sandy Plains Road, Ste. 142 in Marietta, (770) 321-0011, or Moutain Mercantile, 107 Church St., Marietta, (770) 429-1663. For other stores, please check with the church. All net proceeds will go toward the Franciscan mission to help needy children worldwide.