Why Sing? • Byrd Answers!
Make sure to click on the recent article by Dr. Charles Weaver, because he links to something remarkable. In essence, it’s a list—written by William Byrd!—regarding why we should sing.
Archives for September 2023
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.
SEPTEMBER • Monthly Reminder
Each day, I speak via telephone to folks who have supported Corpus Christi Watershed for years. Yet many of them don’t know about our email newsletter! Please sign up! Simply scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address. Thank you!
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
“Mixing” Your Singers? • Just Do It!
Not long ago, I posted an Agnus Dei for Three Voices by William Byrd (d. 1623). When we sing the “Agnus Dei” at Mass, I often have the singers mix up, so they’re not standing next to someone singing their part. In my experience, this technique does wonders for tuning. Here’s a live excerpt (Mp3) […]
“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?
8 Sept. 2023 • Charles Rosen on Bach!
Charles Rosen was a concert pianist who published insightful books about various musical topics. I believe our readers will enjoy this 27-minute presentation on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Not everything Mr. Rosen says is true. (For instance, Rosen was not the first pianist to record the ART OF THE FUGUE on the piano. […]
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
7 Sept. 2023 • Alphabetized Hymnals?
One could be forgiven for believing that arranging hymns in alphabetical order would make them easier to find. Believe it or not, that’s actually one of the worst decisions an editor could make. This very brief video explains why.
Natalia’s Message • “Explaining The Two Sections!”
If you asked random Catholics to recite in English—without reference to a book—a stanza from the “Tantum Ergo” of Saint Thomas Aquinas, how many do you think could?
Does It Make Sense to Alphabetize Hymnals?
Perhaps you’re saying to yourself: “Jeff comes across as super ungrateful.”