Sacred Music at Holy Cross
Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise ye him in the firmament of his power. Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness. Praise him with sound of trumpet: praise him with psaltery and harp. Praise him with timbrel and choir: praise him with strings and organs. Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of joy: let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.
~ Psalm 150
Upcoming Performances
and Events
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About Sacred Music
at Holy Cross
Holy Cross Catholic Church holds Sacred Music in high esteem as an essential and integral part of our Divine Worship. Sacred Music is ordered first and foremost toward the glory of Almighty God, but it also plays an important role in the sanctification and edification of the gathered faithful. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is intended to be a foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet, and Sacred Scripture—particularly the Book of Revelations—makes frequent reference to the celestial beings praising God in song. For this reason, Holy Cross is committed to fostering excellence in our Sacred Music at each of our three campuses, such that it may serve as a worthy foretaste of eternity with the triune God.
In addition to offering the musical “first fruits of our creation” during liturgies, we seek to provide edification to both to our parishioners and the surrounding community by means of sacred concerts hosted throughout each program year. This program is dependent in part on the financial support of individuals who are committed to this cause. If you would be interested in sponsoring a concert or other musical offering at Holy Cross, please contact the Director of Sacred Music (sam@ourholycross.org).
Holy Cross Choirs
The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art.
– Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, §112
The Holy Cross Choir is accepting auditions now!
Contact Director of Sacred Music, Dr. Sam Backman for more information.
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The Saint Helena is a small group of 4-8 select singers, drawn from the membership of the Holy Cross Choir who are primarily devoted to the execution of works from the Renaissance and Baroque music.
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This ensemble is named after founding purpose—namely, to sing polyphonic responsories for Tenebrae on Good Friday. While this group initially met only to sing for one event, a shared passion and love of the mission caused this ensemble to form on a more permanent basis, singing for special Masses and liturgies over and above regular Sunday worship. Because this group does not sing on Sunday mornings, it is able to incorporate membership from beyond the parish also, including members of choirs from neighboring churches who are seeking additional opportunities to sing great choral music in the context of the liturgy. This ensemble rehearses seasonally on Saturday mornings.
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The Holy Cross Gallery Choir is a fine ensemble of adult voices who strive after a high standard of excellence in singing to give due praise to Almighty God. The choir rehearses on Thursday evenings in the loft and sings weekly for the 9:30am Sunday Mass as well as for Holy Days of Obligation and other special services. Our season begins in September and continues until the Feast of Corpus Christi, which generally falls in early to mid-June. The repertoire of this choir is composed of a broad spectrum of music, ranging from Gregorian chants of the medieval period to sacred choral works composed in the year 2024!
Membership in this choir ranges from high school students through retirees, and it consists of people of many different walks of life. Furthermore, our membership is drawn from diverse musical backgrounds, ranging from professional musicians to individuals with little or no formal musical training. Our choir is supported by a number of designated section leaders who are charged with the task of helping individual singers in their section learn music with greater ease and sing with greater confidence. Although the rehearsals are fast-paced, their environment is characterized by warmth, friendliness, and an abundance of good humor. A choir is not just a collection of singers—it’s a community.
We are always interested in recruiting new members to our choir! New members are expected to complete a very simple audition process. Due to the great amount of music that we endeavor to sing, a strong commitment to weekly rehearsals and Masses is expected from all members.
If you want more information or wish to enter into discussion about joining the choir, please contact Director of Sacred Music, Dr. Sam Backman, at sam@ourholycross.org or 612-930-0864.
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As proud home of Minnesota’s only full-service Polish Catholic apostolate, the rich heritage of Polish hymnody forms an essential part of our parish’s musical fabric. The Polish Choir of Holy Cross provides musical leadership for 11:30am Sunday Masses (in Polish) and Holy Days of Obligation. Because this ensemble sings primarily in Polish, members must be at least fluent in the phonetics of the Polish language.
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For musical Masses without a choir, cantors provide musical leadership by singing the Propers of the Mass, which include the Entrance Antiphon, Psalm, Gospel Acclamation, and Communion Antiphon. Cantors also provide support to the congregational singing of hymnody and Mass parts. Upon occasion, cantors offer selections from the sacred vocal repertoire.
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“A cry from deep within our being, music is a way for God to lead us to the realm of higher things. As St. Augustine says, ‘Singing is for the one who loves.’ Music is therefore a sign of God’s love for us and of our love for Him” (Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship, 2)
The Lord has given us the assurance that, “wherever two or three are gathered in [his] name, [he] is there in the midst of them.” (Cf. Matthew 18:20) One need not have a beautiful voice or even a sliver of musical training to sing God’s praises in the Holy Mass. It is the disposition of heart that matters. Singing is indeed a very unified approach to praising our maker, and it uses our entire being. It is an act that is simultaneously physical, mental, and spiritual. We were created to know, love and serve God in this life, and to be with him in the next. Singing enables us to grow closer to God in this life in the hopes that we may sing his praises as we join the eternal song of the cherubim and seraphim. The act of singing is indeed a very potent and real means of growing in discipleship.
Music Staff
Dr. Samuel Backman
Director of
Sacred Music & Liturgical Life
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In his capacity as Director of Sacred Musical & Liturgical life, he chairs a multi-faceted music program across three campuses, functioning as principal organist and director of choirs. During his first year at Holy Cross, he founded the Holy Cross Choir and launched a series of concerts and other musical offerings. In addition to his primary role as a musician, he oversees various dimensions of the parish’s liturgical life. Prior to his employment at Holy Cross, he held positions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Golden Valley, MN; the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Saint Paul, MN; Saint Philip’s Episcopal Church in Ardmore, OK, Saint Paul’s on the Green Episcopal Church in Norwalk, CT, and the University Church at Yale in New Haven, CT.
An active performer, Dr. Backman and has been featured as an organ recitalist for conferences hosted by the American Guild of Organists and the Church Music Association of America. His performances have also been featured on Pipedreams, a National Public Radio Broadcast service hosted by Michael Barone. He is also a composer and arranger of music for choir, organ, piano, and chamber ensembles and his compositions have been published by Paraclete Press.
Dr. Backman holds degrees from Saint Olaf College (B.M.), the Yale School of Music (M.M.), and the University of Oklahoma, (D.M.A.) He completed his organ studies in performance and improvisation with John Ferguson, Catherine Rodland, Martin Jean, Damin Spritzer, and John Schwandt, and he studied conducting with Anton Armstrong, Christopher Aspaas, Maguerite Brooks, and Timothy Mahr. Samuel is a recipient of many distinguished scholarships and awards, including Saint Olaf College’s G. Winston Cassler Scholarship, Yale University’s Mary Baker Award for excellence in organ accompaniment, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago’s Ruth and Paul Manz Scholarship Competition, and nomination to Pi Kappa Lambda, a national honor society for music.
Contact Sam at: Sam.Backman@ourholycross.org
Ms. Arlys Krauter
Music Coordinator & Staff Singer
for the St. Hedwig Campus
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arlys@ourholycross.org.
Music Lists
The Organ of Holy Cross
In the Roman Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up (the human) mind to God and to higher things.
– Sancrosanctum Concilium, 120,
the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy from the Second Vatican Council.
About The Holy Cross Gallery Organ
While all the pipes of the Hinner Organ were incorporated into the new and enlarged instrument, the mechanical key action was replaced with direct electric action. In 1994, the organ underwent substantial repairs due to a fire. In 1997, further additions, such as the organ’s regal Tuba Mirabilis stop, were made. At present, the organ contains 34 ranks, 3 manuals (keyboards), and over 2,200 pipes.
The story of the Holy Cross organ is one with many chapters. In fact, parts of this organ predate the building in which it resides. In 1908, Holy Cross purchased a 15-rank, mechanical action organ from the Hinners Organ Company of Pekin, IL. Upon completion of the current church building in 1928, the organ was refurbished for installation in the existing choir loft. In 1958, the organ was rebuilt and enlarged by the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, IL.
Specifications:
Manuals: 3
Ranks: 36
Action: Wicks Direct Electric®
PEDAL ORGAN
32' Resultant
16' Open Diapason 32
*16' Bourdon 32
16' Rohr Bourdon (Sw)
16' Quintaton (Gt)
10.2/3' Quint (Sw)
8' Principal (Gt)
8' Bass Flute 12
8' Rohr Flute (Sw)
4' Octave 24
4' Block Flute 12
Mixture III (Gt)
32' Bombarde (12 notes digital)
16' Trombone (Sw)
16' Basson Hautbois (Sw)
8' Trumpet (Sw)
4' Clarion (Sw)
4' Hautbois (Sw)
SWELL ORGAN
16' Rohr Bourdon 12
*8' Geigen Diapason 73
*8' Rohr Flute 73
*8' Viole de Gamba 73
*8' Viole Celeste TC 61
*4' Geigen Octave 73
*4' Flute Harmonic 73
2' Octavin 61
Mixture III 183
16' Trumpet 12
*16' Basson Hautbois 12
8' Trumpet 73
*8' Hautbois 73
4' Clarion 73
Tremolo
CHOIR ORGAN
8' Viola 73
*8' Concert Flute 73
8' Dulciana 73
*8' Unda Maris TC 61
4' Viola Octave --
4' Koppel Flute 73
2.2/3' Nasard 61
2' Block Flute 61
1.3/5' Tierce TC 49
*8' Clarinet 73
Tremolo
8' Tuba Mirabilis 61
GREAT ORGAN
16' Quintaton 61
*8' Open Diapason 61
8' Bourdon 61
*8' Gemshorn 61
*4' Principal 61
4' Bourdon 12
2.2/3' Twelfth 61
*2' Fifteenth 61
Mixture IV 244
Zymbelstern
Chimes
*Stops preceded by an asterisk (*) represent ranks of the original 1908 Hinners organ in its original manifestation.
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A view of the Holy Cross Gallery
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The console of the Holy Cross organ.
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A view from the Swell Division of the organ.