“Slander!” • (Response to an Accusation We Received)
“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
“Everybody Loves Raymond” Actress Responds to Cardinal Dolan
“The ‘Lamb of God’ can reach the length of a baseball game.” —Cardinal Dolan
“Glory To God” • (For Choir + Congregation)
I wish to thank everyone for the nice comments I received vis-à-vis my Glory To God setting for Choir & Congregation. A gentleman with a musical doctorate from Indiana University wrote: “Love this setting so much. And I will pray, as you asked, for your return to composition more fully. You are very very good.” […]
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.
William Byrd • “Mass for Five Voices”
Our volunteer choir is learning the “Sanctus” from William Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices. You can hear a short excerpt (recorded last Sunday) but please ignore the sound of babies crying: Mp3 recording. We still have work to do—but we’re on the right track. Once we have some of the tuning issues fixed, I desire […]
“Baptism” • A Unique Hymn
Father Christopher Phillips is the founding Pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church. One of his hymns is unique and (in my humble opinion) quite beautiful. His hymn is basically a prayer to the Holy Trinity but also speaks of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist. It would be an ideal Communion hymn on […]
For the Record: “Jeff Plays Organ”
Twenty-five years ago, if you’d told me I would end up as an organist, I would have laughed. But God seems to have had a different plan! I intend to record every hymn in the Brébeuf Hymnal on the pipe organ (if our Savior gives me the time and energy). You can hear my first recording […]
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!
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.
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.
“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) […]