Clarity! • Missal vs. Gradual Text (Ordinary Form)
If this problem is to be solved, we must first understand it.
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JP2 said in June of 1980…
Pope Saint John Paul II said in June of 1980: “To the extent that the new sacred music is to serve the liturgical celebrations of the various churches, it can and must draw from earlier forms—especially from Gregorian chant—a higher inspiration, a uniquely sacred quality, a genuine sense of what is religious.”
18 August 2020 • Fr. Fortescue wins!
The index for the Brébeuf hymnal has beautiful capital letters, and I had previously believed our creation to be unique. However, it seems Fr. Adrian Fortescue beat us. (Deep sigh.) You can see that the index for his book, Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described, is quite beautiful, and uses the capital letters I spoke […]
“Homily for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
“I considered myself privileged to be Pastor at one of the places in Houck, Arizona, where Saint Katherine Drexel built a church and grade school.”
3 September 1958 • “De musica sacra”
From the 1958 Instruction published under Pope Pius XII: “If the faithful are to communicate, the singing of the Communion antiphon is to begin when the priest distributes Holy Communion. If this Communion antiphon has been taken from some psalm, the other verses of the same psalm may be sung, in which case the antiphon […]
3 September 1958 • Issued by Pius XII
The Sacred Congregation for Rites issued De musica sacra et sacra liturgia (“Instruction on Sacred Music and Sacred Liturgy”) on 3 September 1958. An excerpt: Finally, perfect active participation is achieved when there is also sacramental participation, by which “the faithful who are present communicate not only with spiritual affection, but also in reception of […]
“Homily — 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
“I had a brother who was married outside the Church and had stopped going to Church for about thirty years…”
13 August 2020 • “Lenten acclamations”
Where do the Latin acclamations come from, which replace the “Alleluia” during Lent? The traditional Divine Office replaces Alleluia with “Laus tibi Domine Rex aeternae gloriae.” Here’s a piece of paper that has all possible Ordinary Form “Lenten acclamations” in Latin.
“Crown Him with Many Crowns” (Diademata) • Brébeuf Hymnal #752
Big news! They discovered why Franz Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony” was never completed!
These kids are on fire! • “Victimæ Paschali Laudes” by Philippe Verdelot
I don’t know a more beautiful, gorgeous, memorable 15 seconds than the beginning of Part 2—stunning!
10 August 2020 • FEEDBACK
A reader wrote to us: “I just wanted to send you a message and let you know I REALLY like the compositions on your website. You have a very rich harmonic language in your choral writing. The work you do is so appreciated and important!”
PDF Download • “Veni Creator Spiritus” Organ Accompaniment (Each Verse Notated)
Accompaniment to the hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” with all the verses written out (composed by Jeff Ostrowski).
Vexing? Irksome? • Thoughts On Hymnal Indexes
Most people comb desperately through the final pages, seeking the correct section…
Allowed or Forbidden? • Parallel Fourths in Renaissance Polyphony
Article Subtitle: “Brave schola director posts live recording from rehearsal.”
4 August 2020 • FEEDBACK
A reader wrote to us: “I must confess to taking oodles of inspiration from the work that you do. When I first found your website it was a revelation. I’ve been a monthly donor ever since. I think the work that you do is absolutely VITAL. There are so many things I’d have never been […]
