Pope Saint Paul VI (3 April 1969): “Although the text of the Roman Gradual—at least that which concerns the singing—has not been changed, the Entrance antiphons and Communions antiphons have been revised for Masses without singing.”
Archbishop Di Noia recently claimed that the Faithful’s hunger for the Traditional Mass “has gotten totally out of control and become a movement, especially in the United States, France, and England…” The former vice-president of Ecclesia Dei declared that “Pope Francis is right to see in the repristination of the pre-conciliar liturgy at best a […]
If you look at the 1961 Solesmes Gradual for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost, you will see that somebody in the 1960s was trying to figure out the “melismatic moræ vocis” (a.k.a. “Vaticana white notes”) which we have spoken of so frequently on this blog.
Speaking about the AGNUS DEI, Father Fortescue wrote: “Agnus as a vocative is curious, evidently in order to reproduce the original text (John 1:29) exactly.” [Altera die vidit Joannes Jesum venientem ad se, et ait: Ecce agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccatum mundi.] Father Fortescue, as usual, is correct; but in some medieval manuscripts you […]
This incredible website gives each bishop’s response to the recent MOTU PROPRIO Traditionis Custodes, a decree by Pope Francis which seeks to reduce the number of celebrations of the “Extraordinary Form” (Traditional Latin Mass): traditioniscustodes.info
When you were in school, you would have gotten in trouble if you wrote the Roman Numeral “9” as viiii. You were supposed to write: IX. But look how an ancient manuscript writes “9” as a Roman Numeral. That’s the Introit Ecce Deus for tomorrow’s feast in the Extraordinary Form: The 9th Sunday after Pentecost.
Anyone familiar with the so-called “Traditionalist Catholic” movement knows that (like every other group) it contains some bad apples. Anyone can self-identify as a “Traditionalist Catholic”—even those who are mentally ill, those who beat their wives, and even folks who are emotionally disturbed. All of us know TLM Catholics who are so arrogant they make […]
If we grow up singing hymns, we’re incapable of judging them—because we’re “too close” to them. People who know and love “Abide with me, fast falls the eventide” probably never realized the first word is one of the most egregious examples of incorrect accentuation. (The correct accent for “abide” is on the second syllable, not […]
A reader from Chicago writes: “Your work is exemplary, and these past 15 months have put into clear focus for me just how important Corpus Christi Watershed is as an evangelizing voice in the Church. During this pandemic, we have moved away from the ‘big publisher’ psalters, employing nearly exclusively your settings, which (in my […]
In the annals of pianism, there were some fakers: Vladimir de Pachmann, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Leopold de Meyer, and Henri Herz. A hilarious story is told by Harold C. Schonberg about Henri Herz, his manager (Bernard Ullman), and 1,000 candles. I think you will enjoy reading it.
We tried something last Sunday. On the final stanza of this Eucharistic hymn, we got softer. I’d love to know your thoughts—does it sound good, or contrived?
A document from 1822 shows that 29 June, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, used to be a Holy Day of Obligation in the United States. By 1864 it was no longer a Holy Day of Obligation—but the bishops of the United States were asked to celebrate it “solemnly” on the following Sunday, which […]
A few weeks ago, we posted a perfect Canon by Giovanni Maria Nanino (d. 1607), who was a colleague of Palestrina. Here is a Live Recording by a volunteer choir. The score scrolls by as the singers perform it. It was recorded yesterday at Mass.
Like so many others, we lost about a year’s worth of rehearsals due to Covid19. We are trying to make up for lost time, and we have begun learning Father Guerrero’s Missa De Beata Virgine II published in Rome circa 1582. Here is a 37 second audio clip recorded at Mass last Sunday. We have […]
I could not do my job without the Brébeuf Hymnal. Here’s a Live Recording (20 seconds) from last night’s Mass. Our volunteer choir is frequently called upon—at the last second—to sing for first Masses, solemn high Masses, dedication Masses, and so forth. With the Brébeuf Hymnal, I can always pull out marvelous, wonderful, thrilling songs […]
One of our choristers recorded this audio excerpt from a recent rehearsal we had. I know there are certain people on the internet who claim that “proper voice leading & harmonies died with Bach in 1750AD…anything goes these days.” But I could not disagree more with such an assertion. The proper rules of harmony and […]
