“Notwithstanding all our troubles, we sing Mass” —1601 AD
Let’s remember this sentence when we are tempted to complain about our (holy) vocation providing music for Mass!
Absolutely Sensational Video About The Sacred Music Symposium!
It’s difficult to imagine a more breathtaking video—the beauty is staggering!
Magnificent Photograph! • Fr. Valentine With His Mother
He loved his mother dearly; photo circa 1956.
Protected: « Sundays after Pentecost »
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Big News! • Symposium Dates Revealed
Woo Hoo! The preëminent conference for Church musicians announces dates for its fifth year!
Septuagesima Gradual • Strange Formation on Clivis
Is there a “jail” for people who change the official edition of Gregorian Chant?
“I’m hanging on every word.”—Catholic Organist Group
My friend, Richard J. Clark, sent me a screenshot from the “Catholic Organist Group.”
When Choirs Prefer A “Real Voice” To Midi
Only an insane person would post this publicly—but I “fit the bill”…so here goes!
Short But Superb Film • “Westminster Choir Boys”
The resignation of Martin Baker was quite a shock to the Catholic world.
PDF Download • “What Makes A Good Hymn?”
Dr. Terry says: “The melody must be clearly defined, free from triviality and trite clichés, avoiding harmonies that are sugary or sensuous.”
Protected: 3rd edition • Saint Edmund Campion Missal
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PDF Download • “Ave Maris Stella” (Organ Accompaniment)
The 2nd part has blank staves, so you can compose your own harmonies!
Could Pope St. Pius X Sing?
“On 12 March 1908, the complete publication of the Roman Gradual was issued by the Vatican Press. On that very day, Dom Pothier solemnly presented the first copy to the Holy Father. A witness of the audience says that Pius X wished to be the first to see the new book; he opened it at […]
Julius Bas Accompaniment
A very prolific harmonizer of Gregorian chant in the early 20th century was Mr. Julius Bas. He often uses a very strange technique, wherein he employs rests to eliminate the Alto, Tenor, and Bass voices. Consider what he did with “Lumen ad revelationem” here: * JPEG • Lumen ad revelationem It seems quite lazy, and I’ve […]
Hitting wrong notes
Fr. Valentine Young, OFM, used to say: “The organist can play 1,000 correct notes and one wrong note—and the only thing people will care about is the wrong note.” Last Sunday I hit some wrong notes, and felt bad. Then I remembered a story about Rudolf Serkin and started to chuckle. Charles Rosen (or was […]
