(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) […]
“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!
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. […]
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?