“Could Women Sing At Mass Before Vatican II?”
Does this sound like a “hymn” to you? Or does it sound like a “chant” composition?
PDF Download • “Salve Regina” (32 Versions)
In this article, I examine the elusive provenance of what some have called “the most popular piece of plainsong.”
For the Upcoming Choir Season!
Last week, I posted an SATB choral setting of the SANCTUS in a ‘contemporary’ style. You might want to consider this piece for two reasons: (1) It’s extremely brief; (2) Free rehearsal videos are available for each individual part. The piece is by Father Lhoumeau.
Sequence For Martin Luther? • (Sung to the melody of “Victimae Paschali Laudes”)
Dr. Luca Ricossa has made a YouTube recording of this Sequence!
C-SPAN Clip (1988) • “Return of the Latin Mass?”
“I guess we didn’t know what we had until we lost it…” —Special assistant to Nixon, Ford, and Reagan
PDF Download • “Contemporary Sanctus” (SATB)
This SATB setting by Father Lhoumeau—although contemporary—certainly adheres to the “rule” of Pope Saint John Paul II.
PDF Comparison Chart • “Which Has More Scripture?” — Ordinary or Extraordinary Form?
The answer surprised me!
Open Letter to Bishop Roche • “12 Considerations”
I write in response to the 6 July 2022 statement by Pope Francis: “Make your voices heard! If they do not listen to you, shout even louder.”
PDF Download • Professionally-Scanned “Graduale Romanum” (Schwann, 1908) • 1,129 pages!
This is the “pure” Vatican Edition—technically the only version of the rhythm allowed by Church documents!
“Hymn For Mary’s Assumption” (15 August) • By Saint Robert Southwell, Priest & Martyr
Installment 3 • “How Has Nobody Done This Before?” (series)
“Truly Wonderful Quote” • Dr. Roger Wagner
“Never apologize for your choir, because they’re as good as you are!”
“To go to Mass together will be the light of Sunday for a family.” — Pope Benedict XVI (2005)
Statement by Pope Benedict XVI • Saint Peter’s Square (October, 2005)
PDF Download • “Sunday Vespers” (22 pages)
In spite of its imperfections, creating this (draft) booklet required much more effort than I had anticipated.
11 July 2022 • FEEDBACK
Someone who heard the CCW plainsong recordings with NOH accompaniment says: “For years I have travelled the continents and crossed the oceans of Gregorian chant in search of a composition and interpretation as sublime as this. The text and the melody are interwoven in a game of mirrors with the interpreters, the singer and the […]
Gregorian Chant • Its “True” Rhythm
I’m dumbstruck (with joy) to see that my recent video presentation on plainsong rhythm has garnered quite a number of “views” on VIMEO. I also made the full presentation available on YouTube, and—as I write these words—it has collected 700+ views. How cool is it that folks are still interested in the rhythm of Cantus […]