19 October 2020 • Feast of Father Brébeuf
When the young priest saw the burnt and bleeding body of his superior, aghast and trembling he spoke the words of St. Paul: “We are made a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.”
Dom Pothier • “To The Eyes And To The Ears”
For years, I couldn’t understand this business about “the eyes and the ears.” What did Pothier mean? Then it hit me. • Topics include Dom Joseph Pothier, the mora vocis, Abbot Pothier’s brother (Dom Alphonse Pothier), Dom Lucien David, Dom Paul Jausions, and a truly magnificent story about Pope Pius X and Abbot Pothier, which is essential reading+
The “Mora Vocis” • What is that?
The “Pre-NOH” editions have quite an idiosyncratic way of lengthening the neumes. • Fulsome illustrations are included examining and explaining the mora vocis of the Vatican edition; also mentioned is Dom André Mocquereau, Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val, and Pothier’s Liber Gradualis (1883)+
13 October 2020 • Chopin talks Bach
My “pianist pedigree” goes from my teacher through Wiktor Łabuński through Felix Blumenfeld, who studied with Anton Rubinstein. I always considered myself part of the “Bach-Mozart-Chopin school” as opposed to the “Handel-Beethoven-Liszt school.” (Needless to say, there’s great overlap between these schools.) Before giving a concert, Frédéric Chopin would always shut himself up in a […]
PDF Download • “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord” (Responsorial Psalm)
Including a written tutorial on how to perform Chabanel Psalms correctly.
12 October 2020 • True Story
Before a Low Mass, the priest ascends the Altar to place the Chalice, check the altar Missal, and do other “preparing” tasks. The organist must be prepared to play here, and—depending upon the priest—this can be of surprising length! For certain priests, I can easily play all six verses of a hymn while he’s doing […]
“Homily for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
I think we can learn something from this pagan official.
Catholic Architecture • “Modern vs. Ancient”
A picture is worth 1,000 words…
Photo • Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
…praying the holy rosary with his office staff.
PDF Download • Communion Antiphon (Mt 16:24) with Organ Accompaniment
To give you an idea how this sounds, I recorded the piece on my toy organ.
“Homily for the 19th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
The word “grace” means a gift given to us by God. Sanctifying grace is first given to us when we are baptized.
“O Sacrum Convivium” • Recorded by one person
This piece comes from “Motecta Trium Vocum” by Kevin Allen (for three equal voices).
3 October 2020 • What Kids Lack
Kids these days will never know the adventure of traveling to a special music library, climbing the steps, locating the correct LP record, and placing it into the record player (which had a needle). In the 1990s, this was the only way one could listen to Hofmann’s live recording of Chopin’s 4th Ballade. I have […]
“Spoken vs. Sung Propers” • The Complete History
Lies containing a little truth are the most difficult to quash • Here is the definitive, final exposé on why the “Spoken Propers” don’t match the “Sung Propers.” • In October of 1972, the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy falsely equated the “Spoken Propers” with the “Sung Propers” and proclaimed: “These antiphons are too abrupt for communal recitation” • Several official English translations of the Roman Gradual have received the imprimatur multiple times+
Famous Italian Actor Regrets Aborting Son
“It was the mistake of my life. When I was very young, I had the chance to become a father, but I had my son aborted. Now, I’ve become very strongly against abortion.” —Andrea Roncato