“Are Church Musicians Paid Enough?” • 5 Solutions
With a digression on Corrinne May’s upcoming presentation.
Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”
A theorist, organist, and conductor, Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He completed studies in Education and Musicology at the graduate level. Having worked as a church musician in Los Angeles for ten years, in 2024 he accepted a position as choirmaster for Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Michigan, where he resides with his wife and children. —Read full biography (with photographs).

With a digression on Corrinne May’s upcoming presentation.

“Gentlemen: Nobody is going to follow the archaic and quack ideas on Chant you are trying to propagate.” Mr. John Sandar

Did Dom Mocquereau compose any official plainsong pieces included in the official edition? He did!
Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here’s my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.

My colleague, Patrick Williams, has given me permission to share with our audience a recording his choir made.

Letters like this prove there are still awesome people in this world!

There was no explanation given for why “Darrin Stephens” was suddenly a completely different person.

I don’t think our readers are interested in what we say about Gregorian rhythm—they’re interested only in what we can demonstrate.
My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year’s Sacred Music Symposium. If you’re interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of […]

“The organ is so universally used as an accompanying instrument today that there is a pressing need to provide a written accompaniment…” —César Franck
From a reader in New Hampshire: “I just love your articles and resources! You provide an excellent resource!”

Including an “added bonus” I discovered while researching Julius Bas (an Italian musicologist and organist).
If we truly believe what we say we believe, how can we allow goofy, off-Broadway, secular, casual music at Mass?
A VESPERS ACCOMPANIMENT BOOKLET (20 pages) for this coming Sunday—the 5th Sunday after Easter—can now be downloaded. Those who sing Vespers exactly as given in the ANTIPHONALE ROMANUM will notice that all five psalms for Eastertide are sung according to the exact same tone with the exact same differentiæ. Can someone explain why this is? […]
As of 6 May 2023, anyone who wishes to may download the COMPLETED BOOKLET (330 pages) which was created for participants of Sacred Music Symposium 2023. Those who were accepted to participate in this year’s conference will be presented with their own (hard-copy) printed version of this breathtaking booklet. The faculty this year includes Professor […]
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