Theodore Marier facts for kids
Theodore Norbert Marier (born October 17, 1912 – died February 24, 2001) was a talented church musician, teacher, and expert in Gregorian Chant. He started the famous St. Paul's Choir School in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1963. He also led the Church Music Association of America for a time.
Life and Career
Marier once shared that he fell in love with Gregorian Chant when he was a college student in the 1930s. He heard a recording of a choir from France, and he said, "It was the most beautiful music I had ever heard." Later, he even got to study this special music in France.
He went to Boston College and then got a master's degree from Harvard University. For many years, he directed choirs and taught music at different colleges.
In 1934, Marier began working at The Church of St. Paul (Harvard Square) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He started as an organ player and later became the choir director in 1947.
In 1963, Marier helped create the St. Paul's Choir School with Monsignor Augustine F. Hickey. This school was connected to the church. Marier directed the school until he retired in 1986. The school's choir became known as the Boston Boy Choir.
During his time as choir director, Marier encouraged new music to be written for the St. Paul's choir. He wanted modern composers to create sacred songs for them.
In the 1950s, Marier taught at the Pius X School of Liturgical Music. He also helped edit The Pius X Hymnal, which is a book of hymns.
In 1966, he was chosen to be the president of the Church Music Association of America.
After retiring from St. Paul's in 1986, Marier became a professor at The Catholic University of America. He also helped guide students studying church music. He was part of other music groups and studied at Cambridge University in England. He even made recordings with the Boston Symphony.
Marier also edited two hymnals, which are collections of hymns: Cantus Populi (1963) and Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Canticles (1974 and 1983).
Awards and Honors
Marier received special honorary doctorates in music from important universities, including The Catholic University of America and the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome.
In 1984, Pope John Paul II honored Marier for his 50 years of service to the church. He was named a Knight Commander of Saint Gregory. This is a special title given by the Pope to people who have done great things for the Catholic Church.
In 1996, he received the Saint Ignatius Award from his old high school, Boston College High School.
Personal Life
Theodore Marier was good friends with the French composer Jean Langlais. He was also a friend of the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut. He gave the rights to his last book, A Gregorian Chant Master Class, to the Abbey.
Legacy
Cardinal Bernard Francis Law led Marier's funeral service at The Church of St. Paul (Harvard Square). Cardinal Law had actually sung in Marier's choir when he was a student at Harvard in the 1950s.
Helen Hull Hitchcock, an editor, said that "Professor Marier successfully shared his passion for Gregorian chant with many generations of Catholic musicians." She remembered singing in a choir Marier led and said, "His enthusiasm was as impressive as his musical knowledge. No one has done more to promote the musical traditions of the Church in America."
Works
Marier contributed to or edited several important music books:
- The Pius X Hymnal (1953; revised 1956) - He helped edit this hymnal.
- Cantus Populi, a hymnal (1963) - He was the editor of this collection.
- Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Canticles, a hymnal (1974; revised 1983) - He also edited this hymnal.
- A Gregorian Chant Practicum (1992) ISBN: 9780813202136
Some of his works were published after he passed away:
- A Gregorian Chant Master Class (by Scott Turkington) (2002) ISBN: 9780972220507
- The Restoration of Gregorian Chant: Solesmes and the Vatican Edition (2003) - He helped translate this book. ISBN: 9780813213484
He also composed many musical pieces, including:
- The Order of Mass (English Mass)
- Holy, Holy, Holy - four different versions
- Our Father - I
- Lamb of God - two versions
- Missa Brevis (also called "Mass for Advent and Lent")
- Several hymns, Magnificat, gospel acclamations, and psalm settings.
- You are a Priest of God (unpublished)
- The Lord's My Shepherd (unpublished)
- Adam Lay y'Bounden (unpublished)
He also created arrangements of popular carols like Silent Night and Angels We Have Heard on High.
For the organ, he composed:
- Christmas Suite for Organ (A Sequence of Carols and Hymns)
- Gregorian Chants: Two Suites (1946)
- Processiones Liturgicae - he edited and arranged this.
- Voix Celeste (1942) - he edited and compiled this.