Hope For Our Church.
People like Deacon Francis give me hope!
Articles
Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Godspeed!” (9 Oct 2023)
“It is all too easy to be lured away from a common-sense interpretation of the oldest sources by the siren song of beautiful, polished performances according to some other style.” —Patrick Williams
Collect Conclusions – Per Dominum &c.
A printable page of collect conclusions in Latin and English. Enjoy!
“Catholic Herald” Article Features Our Singing!
One of the things that surprised me was how many traditional choir programs had begun popping up all around the country.
PDF Dissertation • “Dom Mocquereau and Music Theory” (282 Pages)
My thesis on how Dom Mocquereau relates to other theories of musical rhythm is now available for download.
PDF Download • “Congregational Booklet” (Printable) for Jeff’s New Mass Setting
A congregational booklet requested by Mr. Seth Bauer.
“Must Hymns Always Rhyme?” • (With Examples)
Non-rhyming hymns are certainly a strong temptation since they’re so much easier to compose.
Palestrina Would Not Recognize This! • (Plus: Hopeful Signs)
On 21 September 2023, composers Dan Schutte, Roc O’Connor, and Bob Dufford stood in the Sanctuary of Old St. Patrick’s Church…
Vollaerts Revisited
“The time is ripe to reconsider the contributions of Fr. Jan Vollaerts to Gregorian musicology.” —Patrick Williams
Eight (8) Responsorial Psalm Options • On turning Missalettes into little “gods”
They have embraced a certain opinion about matters and will never change—not even on their deathbed.
Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Nuances of Nuances” (28 Sep 2023)
“Reading deliberate ‘nuances’ into normal variations in handwriting is a solution in search of a problem.” —Patrick Williams
Active Participation or Not?
“Somehow, an amplified soloist drowning out everyone else is deemed ‘active participation,’ but a choir of thirty voices singing polyphony is not.” —Patrick Williams
(Not Kidding) • Does Singing for Mass Fulfill One’s Obligation to Attend Mass?
Jeff Ostrowski provides five (5) responses to an assertion made by a priest.
A Brief Addendum
In praise of the Cardine approach to chanting, with some further thoughts on pluralism and correctness in performance practice.
PDF Download • All Seven (7) Movements: “Mass in Honor of Saint Noël Chabanel”
My Mass setting for the Ordinary Form involves your Congregation, your Cantrix, and your Choir.