PDF Download • Organ Accompaniment for “Audi Benigne Conditor” (Vespers Hymn for Lent)
Finding the “perfect” accompaniment for hymns can be challenging. Here is my attempt.
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Archives for March 2020
Stella Caeli – a hymn against pestilence
Veronica Brandt has posted a beautiful antiphon reputed to keep the plague away; updated to correct a semitone variance in the first copy she made • The Cantuale Romano-Seraphicum from 1951 is mentioned • Free download of “Stella Caeli” along with the Litany of Our Lady+
Errors in the “Complete Works” of Father Cristóbal de Morales
Monsignor Higinio Anglés, a Spanish priest and musicologist, was director of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music.
Internet Bullies
Any Christian who tries to make a difference in the sacred music world must expect to face opposition and scorn. Today, the attacks will frequently come from “internet cowards” who hide behind false names, fake biographies, anonymous blogs, and so forth. Falsehoods and calumnies from anonymous sources are impossible to debunk—because recognition is what they […]
A Hymn We’re Singing This Lent—In English!
Have you heard of the “People’s Mass Book,” published by Omer Westendorf in 1964?
“Let’s Not” . . . a small moment of reverence
Cardinal Dolan at Mass
Liturgical Custody of the Eyes
Guarding the Sense of Sight so as to Promote Participation
Psalms, Psalmody, Psalmists, Psalm Singing
Some of you may not know, but in seminaries and houses of religious, the 150 psalms are still recited or sung every month.
Former Executive Director (USCCB Liturgy Committee) Distorts Holy Week Permitted By Pope Francis
Pope Francis was right to allow the Pre-1955 Holy Week. Father Krisman is incorrect to suggest it will “hurt people.”
Father Cristóbal de Morales • “Missa Mille Regretz”
Some believe Stevenson was the greatest musicologist of all time, but I believe he made an error here.
Singing in the Papal Choir during the 16th century…
“Juan Sánchez, first admitted in June, 1529, was the most flamboyant member of the generally hot-tempered Spanish section of the choir. In January, 1540, not wishing to sing the part allotted him by the director, he hit him “in the presence of the Sacrament,” thus creating a “very great scandal.” He was imprisoned, but the […]
Excerpt (November, 1545) for Choir Members at the Vatican
There were about 32 singers: “A singer need not be in holy orders but must be a man of honor and of good repute. When a new member is proposed, his character shall first be examined, and then he shall be brought to a musical examination conducted by the choir members themselves. The first requisite […]
PDF Download • Catholic Hymnal by the Bishop of Cleveland, Ohio (84 Pages)
An extremely rare hymnal compiled by the Most Rev’d Joseph Schrembs, Bishop of Cleveland, Ohio.
The Institution as Formator (Part II)
Once we realize how high that standard for accepting a chorister is, it becomes easier to understand the boy’s rapid musical progress in the choir.
Pope Pius X had been a choirmaster!
During his final year of theological studies at the seminary, Pope Pius X served as choirmaster to the seminarians! While serving as bishop of Mantua, he founded a Schola Cantorum and personally taught courses in sacred music and Cantus Gregorianus. Fascinating!