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A reader sent us an email which was both thoughtful and articulate. Feeling it deserved a response, I published this article a few days ago. I included the full letter sent to us by the reader, but that’s not all. Indeed, the article became rather lengthy and touched upon a number of different themes. I […]
On 21 September 2023, composers Dan Schutte, Roc O’Connor, and Bob Dufford stood in the Sanctuary of Old St. Patrick’s Church…
It’s very brief, but I think you would enjoy hearing Benno Moiseiwitsch (d. 1963) tell this really cool story about Sergei Rachmaninoff (d. 1943). Moiseiwitsch, whose playing was admired by Josef Hofmann, had studied with Theodor Leschetizky (d. 1915). I opened my recent article by speaking of a powerful quote Rachmaninoff gave to Robert Croan, […]
In case you missed it, many readers have enjoyed taking this little Quiz On Hymns. In the context of that article, I included a sensational quote about the Holy Mass by Monsignor Ronald Knox. Moreover, I talk about how Abraham Lincoln’s mother died, as well as a fabulous Eucharistic hymn by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
They have embraced a certain opinion about matters and will never change—not even on their deathbed.
Time flies! Back in July, I posted a PDF setting of a perfect canon by William Byrd (d. 1623) arranged as an AGNUS DEI for three voices. Last Sunday, we sang that arrangement with our volunteer choir. To hear a ‘live’ recording of it, click here (Mp3). In my humble opinion, this would be a perfect […]
Jeff Ostrowski provides five (5) responses to an assertion made by a priest.
My Mass setting for the Ordinary Form involves your Congregation, your Cantrix, and your Choir.
“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
“The ‘Lamb of God’ can reach the length of a baseball game.” —Cardinal Dolan
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.” […]
My setting begins with the entire congregation singing—but the middle section is SATB polyphony.
This coming Sunday is the 17th Sunday after Pentecost (EF).
Including a tip on preventing choirs from ‘sinking’ the pitch lower and lower.
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 […]
