My Student Singing Byrd Will Make You Weep!
Today we release polyphony by two composers: William Byrd and William Fritz.
Archives for April 2023
Conducting Tip: Use the Whole Body
Are you aware of your legs? And do you know why that matters for a choir conductor?
Photograph • Pope Saint Paul VI Distributes Holy Communion (Kneeling, On The Tongue)
How dare we—who are so sinful—how dare we receive our Lord?
Introit • “Jubiláte Déo” (3rd Sunday after Easter)
Sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
PDF Download • “English Hymns for Three Voices” (SSA), edited by Dr. Theodore Marier—182 pages
My choir will definitely be using these settings. They’re something many have begged for!
FEEDBACK • 26 April 2023
A reader wrote to us about the MELCOMBE HYMN ARTICLE (whose official title was: 1950s Catholicism: Do We Want It Back?) with these kind words: “I so wish there was a CD of your choir. The Introit the other day stays with me all day!”
“1950s Catholicism” • Do We Want It Back?
“I have found, to my astonishment, that Catholics…in their principal churches, do not to this day possess even one Mass setting even tolerably good, or which is not actually distasteful and operatic.” —Felix Mendelssohn (1835)
It’s Coming!
The draft booklet (320 pages) which will—in a gorgeous hard-copy—be given to participants at the Sacred Music Symposium has been released. If you see any typos, please let me know ASAP. Thank you!
Five Ways to Celebrate the Octave of Pentecost
For most Novus Ordo-going Catholics, myself included, the Octave of Pentecost is no longer officially part of the Church’s liturgical calendar, but here are five fitting ideas for extending the joy of Pentecost throughout the week.
PDF Download • Draft Copy — “2023 Symposium Booklet” (320 Pages)
I will never forget standing in that green room, waiting to go on stage.
FEEDBACK • “Soul Was Craving”
I got this (personal) message from a choir member. I know we usually avoid sharing personal items, but hopefully this exception is warranted: “Dear Mr. Ostrowski, I read your recent article, “I Came From Somewhere.” I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you for all that you do. I appreciate your sentiments and your work to […]
“I Came From Somewhere” • (So Did You!)
Including a haunting hymn by Flor Peeters for Eastertide.
“Quasi Modo” • Introit for this coming Sunday.
I’m desperately in need of this book!
Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “The Hidden Dactyl”
“Perhaps surprisingly, not one word of three syllables in the ancient Easter sequence ‘Laudes Salvatori voce’ is sung to the rhythm of a dactyl.” —Alasdair Codona
“Regína Caéli Laetáre” • 18 organ accompaniments
Plainsong sung poorly—in a sluggish, lifeless manner—can leave a bad taste in people’s mouths.