19 October 2020 • Feast of Father Brébeuf
When the young priest saw the burnt and bleeding body of his superior, aghast and trembling he spoke the words of St. Paul: “We are made a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.”
Archives for October 2020
Dom Pothier • “To The Eyes And To The Ears”
For years, I couldn’t understand this business about “the eyes and the ears.” What did Pothier mean? Then it hit me. • Topics include Dom Joseph Pothier, the mora vocis, Abbot Pothier’s brother (Dom Alphonse Pothier), Dom Lucien David, Dom Paul Jausions, and a truly magnificent story about Pope Pius X and Abbot Pothier, which is essential reading+
Indispensable & Accessible: Fr. Samuel F. Weber Propers in English
Indispensable and accessible: these antiphons possess sublime elegance that grace the Novus Ordo Mass with simple, yet proper reverence and solemnity.
The “Mora Vocis” • What is that?
The “Pre-NOH” editions have quite an idiosyncratic way of lengthening the neumes. • Fulsome illustrations are included examining and explaining the mora vocis of the Vatican edition; also mentioned is Dom André Mocquereau, Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val, and Pothier’s Liber Gradualis (1883)+
13 October 2020 • Chopin talks Bach
My “pianist pedigree” goes from my teacher through Wiktor Łabuński through Felix Blumenfeld, who studied with Anton Rubinstein. I always considered myself part of the “Bach-Mozart-Chopin school” as opposed to the “Handel-Beethoven-Liszt school.” (Needless to say, there’s great overlap between these schools.) Before giving a concert, Frédéric Chopin would always shut himself up in a […]
PDF Download • “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord” (Responsorial Psalm)
Including a written tutorial on how to perform Chabanel Psalms correctly.
12 October 2020 • True Story
Before a Low Mass, the priest ascends the Altar to place the Chalice, check the altar Missal, and do other “preparing” tasks. The organist must be prepared to play here, and—depending upon the priest—this can be of surprising length! For certain priests, I can easily play all six verses of a hymn while he’s doing […]
How to Stay Prayerful as a Church Musician
It all boils down to recollection. This 39-page book will help. (And so will one weird trick with your computer, as the clickbaiters would say.)
“Homily for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
I think we can learn something from this pagan official.
Catholic Architecture • “Modern vs. Ancient”
A picture is worth 1,000 words…
Sacred Music Boot Camp 2020
Three days of practical chant instruction and immersion in the treasury of Catholic sacred music
“Arranging Polyphony for One Voice” • (Live Rec.)
When faced with restrictions on the size of the choir, history suggests that we can adapt music for smaller groups, including groups with only one singer.
Photo • Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
…praying the holy rosary with his office staff.
PDF Download • Communion Antiphon (Mt 16:24) with Organ Accompaniment
To give you an idea how this sounds, I recorded the piece on my toy organ.
(Installment #10) “Catholic Hymnals” • Chris Mueller
Father Rutler makes five crucial points.