“O Sacrum Convivium” • Recorded by one person
This piece comes from “Motecta Trium Vocum” by Kevin Allen (for three equal voices).
3 October 2020 • What Kids Lack
Kids these days will never know the adventure of traveling to a special music library, climbing the steps, locating the correct LP record, and placing it into the record player (which had a needle). In the 1990s, this was the only way one could listen to Hofmann’s live recording of Chopin’s 4th Ballade. I have […]
“Spoken vs. Sung Propers” • The Complete History
Those lies which contain a little bit of truth are the most difficult to quash.
Famous Italian Actor Regrets Aborting Son
“It was the mistake of my life. When I was very young, I had the chance to become a father, but I had my son aborted. Now, I’ve become very strongly against abortion.” —Andrea Roncato
“Homily for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
Sin is an offense against God. Therefore, only God can forgive sin.
PDF Download • Extremely Rare! — 1966 “Book of Catholic Worship” (809 pages)
Do you recognize where these pages were stolen from in 1966, when they hoped nobody would notice?
Communication • Re: Modern Catholic Hymns
Are you familiar with “Thaxted”—a beautiful hymn tune?
EWTN Features Catholic Choirmaster & Composer
Brian J. Nelson is director of Sacred Music at the Saint Lawrence Catholic Campus Center.
22 September 2020 • “Tears of Joy”
A reader wrote to us: “Thank you for the sample verses of Hymn #869 (Solemn Hymn to the Son of God). I found this music posted to YouTube this morning, and I’ve lost count at of the number of times I’ve replayed it and—no exaggeration!—it makes me tear up each time. This lovely hymn makes […]
“Homily for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
“I never really understand this psalm until I entered the Franciscan Novitiate in 1942…”
Myth Re: Johann Sebastian Bach
Some musicologists try to make a “splash” by saying that Bach was totally forgotten when he died—remembered only as an organ virtuoso—and that his sons were more famous than he was. Such an idea is indefensible. It is true that musical styles changed in 1750AD—but this is normal. Musical styles change constantly; e.g. much of […]
Arthur Friedheim, Franz Liszt’s Secretary
Arthur Friedheim (d. 1932) has a very poor reputation as a pianist, and Liszt rejected him several times before finally accepting him as a pupil, yet the Liszt recordings he left are quite good—especially considering the transgressions by other Liszt pupils. Friedheim must have been an amazing musician; twice he was asked to become conductor […]
More on the Mystery Book
Examples: Non Abluunt Lymphae Deum, Rebus Creatis Nil Egens, Salve Caput Cruentatum, Sancti Venite, Victis Sibi Cognomina, Hoste Dum Victo Triumphans, and Jam Desinant Suspiria.
Homily — “Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Mother” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
During World War II, Catholic churches were filled on Friday evenings for the Sorrowful Mother Novena and Benediction.
13th Anniversary of “Summorum Pontificum”
“The cemeteries are filled……”
“A blast from the past”
Consilium document (“Instantibus Pluribus”) to presidents of the national liturgical commissions, on norms for translation of the Graduale Simplex, dated 23 January 1968: “The types of chant in the Graduale Simplex may be adapted to the style of music and song typical of individual peoples. But any sort of secular or profane melody is excluded.”
PDF Download • 1928 “Invitatory” (86 pages)
The “invitatory” occurs at the beginning of Matins and therefore introduces the daily divine Office.
“Homily — 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
“Often, the person who did us harm won’t even know that we’re still stewing over what they did to us; and if they knew, they might even be glad.”
Jeff Ostrowski • “Three Rules For Good Music”
But we have not spoken very much about Baroque music…
Important Message To Fathers
“Kids don’t remember this…”