“Please don’t get cocky and think of your methods as somehow innately superior or universally and inarguably superior in their benefits.” —Email from a Reader
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Some Questions Answered
Some very quick answers to questions posed by Patrick Williams.
Concerning Alterations to the Vatican Edition
“I cannot imagine any justification for making such an alteration and still claiming that one’s edition corresponds to the Vaticana.” —Patrick Williams
Introducing the CRCCM Repertoire Project
“Here is offered choral music recommendations for all Sundays and major liturgical occasions of the church year, including selected Ritual Masses. The repertoire is submitted by CRCCM members and is offered to all musicians of liturgical churches throughout the world.”
“Everybody Loves Raymond” Actress Responds to Cardinal Dolan
“The ‘Lamb of God’ can reach the length of a baseball game.” —Cardinal Dolan
PDF Download • “Kyrie for the Ordinary Form in Honor of Saint Thomas More”
A month of William Byrd … in Dallas, Texas!
Antiphons Vs. Hymns • A “Both/And” Church
“[T]he primordial question is centered on how the hymn or antiphon will help the assembly enter more deeply into the mystery being celebrated.” — Christopher Ferraro
What Robert Did to My Graphics
“Dear Cynthia: I landed on your website while searching for…”
This Sunday! • Q&A “Developing a Youth Choir Program”
I will be privileged to field your questions alongside two well known and widely respected church musicians: Mary Ann Carr Wilson and Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka.
PDF Download • “Glory To God” for Congregation & Choir (Mass of Saint Noël Chabanel)
My setting begins with the entire congregation singing—but the middle section is SATB polyphony.
Gregorian Chant Introit • (Sung According to the Official Rhythm of the Catholic Church)
This coming Sunday is the 17th Sunday after Pentecost (EF).
(Quiz) • “How Well Do You Know Your Hymns?”
Including a tip on preventing choirs from ‘sinking’ the pitch lower and lower.
Enter the Gregorian Rhythm Wars
My goal is to clarify and illumine what I believe exactly is at stake when we debate the rhythm in chant. I shall first attempt to summarize the core arguments that each of the main authors in this blog series use.
Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Mocquereau on Trial” (16 Sep 2023)
“The burden of proof is on the one who persists in ignoring the evidence.” —Patrick Williams
Implementing a Private Lesson Program for Your Choir
How to sell the idea to your singers, and what to teach them. (Part 2 of 2)
Natália Explains: “Why You Should Care About Shared Melodies.”
Everything’s going great, until you start playing…
Traditional Latin Mass with Vernacular (!) Ordinary at High Mass in the 1600s
I will let you in on a secret!
A Concert in Honor of William Byrd
The better the voice is, the meeter it is to honour and serve God therewith: and the voice of man is chiefly to be employed to that end.
Eucharistic Hymn by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Using a favorite melody of Dr. Theodore Marier.
“Ever Ancient, Ever New” • Sacred Concert in North Florida
“It is even more encouraging when a concert with 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑦 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑐 Catholic music is done.” —Mæstro Fritz
“Can No One Defend This?” • Why Everyone Should Sing From the Official Edition
I can never go back!
Jeff Ostrowski’s Discovery • (Does Anyone Care?)
Feel free to examine every single page if you doubt what I’m saying!
Can a Lens Make a Difference?
My husband tells me this edition (by Dom Pothier’s student) is of monumental importance. I take him at his word.
Lack Choir Boys? • A Foolproof Way to Get Them!
What happened to this masculine presence in all things musical in the United States?
Dr. Alfred Calabrese on William Byrd’s “Sanctus” • (Mass for Five Voices)
“The Byrd Masses were printed without title pages, and with no reference to a composer. It was too dangerous to do so.” —Dr. Calabrese
PDF Downloads
“Momentous Release!” • Freakishly Rare Gradual & Vesperal Published by Pothier’s Protégé (1,638 pages!)
He screamed into the telephone: “There’s no such thing as Gregorian Chant!”
PDF Download • “Alleluia Verse before Gospel” • (Mass in honor of Saint Noël Chabanel)
Instead, Saint Francis knelt down and kissed the priest’s hands…
PDF Download • Saint Noël Chabanel Mass Setting (“Kýrie Eléison”) for the Ordinary Form
We must remember the lesson of the rock.
PDF Download • “Our Father” (SATB Version)
Today, I release another movement of the “Saint Noël Chabanel Mass Setting” (for use in the Ordinary Form).
PDF Download • Saint Noël Chabanel Mass Setting (“Holy, Holy, Holy”) for the Ordinary Form
As if the canonic sections were insufficiently stupendous, the composer works in stepwise ascending lines juxtaposed with lines in augmentation.
“OCP” (Oregon Catholic Press) Forbids Organ Improvisation! • Screenshot Provided
The hubris on the part of OCP is breathtaking.