O Crux Ave, partial recording
A stepping stone towards singing this motet with a small choir – a recording for the middle voice of Fr Friel’s 3 part motet.
Making rehearsal CDs and finding mp3s
Burning CDs may seem old-fashioned, but many people still rely on their CD players. All the shortcuts, plus a free recording of Audi Benigne Conditor.
Forget the First Note, give me the Do
A tip for sight-reading chant – start with a Do La Fa to anchor your ear and find the starting note from the tonic.
The longest 54 seconds in a Missa Cantata
Directing music for a Sung Mass can be terrifying. Here’s a tip to help you avoid one trap.
Epiphany Proclamation 2017
“It is solemnly made known, dearest brethren that, just as we—through the bounteous mercy of God—have rejoiced in the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ…”
Random Acts of Beauty: the Vestment Fund
Looking for a chariitable appeal you can support in good conscience? Check out this new Vestment Fund.
Come to Sydney for a Retreat in Silence and Song
Sydney might not be famous for spiritual endeavours. Here is a peak at a few upcoming retreats for men.
Liturgy and Sensory Issues
Simplicity and predictability are important for being inclusive.
Gregorian chant is not all the same
Have you ever been asked to sing some Gregorian chant? How do you choose a representative piece?
Christus Vincit – Laudes Regiae
The flexible and stirring chant that is almost a war cry. Two versions to download.
Compline Online with Chant Notation
A handy online copy of Compline according to the 1962 liturgical books dynamically adapting to the day of the week, feast or feria and looks great on small screen mobile devices.
It’s not about talent
A church musician’s work may well be priceless. We don’t need to have gratitude for our natural talent, though talent can make life easier. The big honour is to serve God at the summit and source of Christian life.
Planning a Corpus Christi Procession
Last minute preparations for a Corpus Christi Procession.
Veni Creator Chant Plus Polyphony by Couturier
Getting more mileage out of a beautiful hymn by alternating 4 part verses with the chant.
How to train your dragon and the Easter Vigil Alleluia
Hearing a movie theme in the Alleluia verse from the Easter Vigil. Gregorian chant has all the good tunes.
More on Angelus Bells
More bells – enormous bells from Cologne Cathedral, bells from the country in southern France and bells from Ohio.
Recordings for A New Book of Old Hymns
A little book of Gregorian chant hymns for the every occasion, with a collection of recordings for those unfamiliar with chant notation. Now more than a decade since the first edition and still going strong.
Save the Merit, Save the World
Lenten discipline : St Philip Neri says “to love to be unknown”; Gandalf says “Keep it secret, keep it safe.”
Jesus Played Marbles
A picture book painting an historical picture of Jesus’ hidden life with the boys known in the Bible as His brothers while providing the evidence supporting the Catholic teaching of the perpetual virginity of Our Lady. And how to play marbles in a friendly way.
Make a Digital Piano Sound Like an Organ
Nothing beats a real pipe organ, but you may be able to put together a respectable substitute that you can lug into a church in a few bags.