Dr. Samuel Backman • Article Archive

Dr. Samuel Backman earned degrees at Saint Olaf College, Yale University, and the University of Oklahoma. currently serves as Director of Sacred Music at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he chairs a multi-faceted music program across three campuses. He resides with his wife in Minneapolis, Minnesota.—Read full biography (with photographs).

Dr. Samuel Backman · July 24, 2024

Sacred Music and Suspicions of Elitism

“While a student, I was told to avoid playing Bach in the context of worship, as doing so might give the impression that I was targeting a sort of ‘elite’ class.” —Dr. Samuel Backman

Dr. Samuel Backman · January 10, 2013

Biography • Dr. Samuel Backman

Samuel earned degrees from Saint Olaf College, Yale University, and the University of Oklahoma…

Music List • (23rd Sund. Ordinary Time)

This coming Sunday (8 September 2024) is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. Some have expressed interest in seeing my “ORDER OF MUSIC.” If such a thing be appealing to you, it can be downloaded as a PDF file.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Communion • (23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time)

This coming Sunday (23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time) we’re singing the Communion antiphon in English as adapted by the SISTERS OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD (O'Fallon, Missouri). Their enormous body of work is usually referred to as The O’Fallon Propers. Click here to download this Communion as a PDF file. (For the record, I couldn’t resist changing a few notes here and there.)

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • For Sunday (8-Sep-2024)

Coming up fast is Sunday, 8 September 2024, which is the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Here’s the PDF file for the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON—in Gregorian notation on five lines—which we’ll be singing. You can also download this organ accompaniment which corresponds to that file. Plainchant scholars will be interested in the ancient version it mimics (i.e. “takes as it inspiration”). If you enjoy rehearsal videos, you can listen to my recording by clicking here.

—Jeff Ostrowski