“Best & Worst Responses” • This Survey Was Responded To By 300+ Church Musicians
You’re probably thinking: “Jeff, if you think Father Rossini’s narrow-mindedness was bad, get ready for a rude awakening when you see what we’re up against in 2023.”
Monsignor Francis P Schmitt
Analysis • “Archaic and Quack Ideas on Chant”
“Gentlemen: Nobody is going to follow the archaic and quack ideas on Chant you are trying to propagate.” Mr. John Sandar
Should Chant Be Accompanied On The Organ?
As late as 1924, Dom Mocquereau mentioned Dom Desrocquettes “whose beautiful and discreet accompaniments I hear every day at Solesmes.”
“Go!” • The Word That Changed My Life Forever
As Americans, we’re “bred from birth” to think of ourselves as little gods who already know everything and require no correction.
PDF Download • Max Springer’s Gradual in Modern Notation (870 pages) — Extravagantly Rare!
In addition to this rare book by Max Springer (870 pages), I release the draft copy of a new Gregorian project (157 pages).
What Exactly Is Dr. Peter Wagner Talking About?
“These manuscripts had to be sought out in the public or capitular libraries, whose conservators were often hardly supportive of—if not outright hostile to—the reproduction of their treasures.”
PDF • “Rorate Mass Musical Booklet” (39 pages)
In my humble opinion, that ‘explanation’ is sheer, unadulterated gobbledygook.
PDF Download • Organ Accompaniment Booklet: Vespers (2nd Sunday of Advent) — 27 pages
Dom Gajard said to Jean Langlais: “Hear the blackbird! It doesn’t know what an ‘ictus’ is, yet it sings better than we.”
Archbishop Lefebvre Pushed For Vernacular Readings?
Louis Bouyer—the priest chosen to compose “Eucharistic Prayer II”—condemned the liturgical reforms when he saw the results.
“Catholic Choirmaster” • Fascinating Photo Taken 29 August 1964
CMAA was formed the same year “Inter Oecumenici” was issued by the Vatican.
Monsignor Francis P. Schmitt—“Put Out To Pastor”
An in depth article about Monsignor Francis P. Schmitt by Andy Baumert.
Msgr. Francis P. Schmitt Reviews the NOH (1958)
“We know of Vatican accompaniments, not so expert as these, that have been junked because they were Vatican. Apparently no one has junked these and no one is likely to.” — Msgr. Schmitt
Photograph of Msgr. Francis P. Schmitt
Photograph of “Father Schmitt” of Boys Town taken during the 1950s.
Music Delivered A Young Boy From Dispair
“My father had no job and a daily passion for beer. The situation was hopeless for both him and his seven children. When I was 11 years old, Catholic Charities intervened. They split us up, and sent five of us kids to foster homes, and my older brother Mike and I to Boys Town.”
A Tale Of Two Monsignori: Schmitt & Vyverman
Did Msgr. Schmitt malign Msgr. Vyverman of Malines? And did Fr. Schmitt truly forget Gogniat’s name?