“O Magnum Mysterium” • Do You Sing This?
The Consilium of Pope Paul VI asked (15 March 1965): “Is it pleasing that the feast of the Holy Family be suppressed?”
Archives for January 2024
Know your hymns? How Well?
Several singers from my choir recently recorded this beautiful hymn (Mp3), using famous lyrics from the Brébeuf Hymnal. How well do you know your hymns? Can you name that tune? If so, please email us. If you correctly name that tune, I’ll declare: “You really know your hymns!”
Released • Jeff Ostrowski’s Seminar: “Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster” (9+ hours)
Mr. Ostrowski created this seminar based on lectures, masterclasses, and tutorials he’s presented at the Sacred Music Symposium over the last decade.
PDF Download • Msgr. Hellriegel’s “Hand-Written” Hymnal (Organ Accompaniment) — 102 pages
A major announcement on 8 January 2024!
Organ? Or SATB unaccompanied?
Pipe organ (with voices) or unaccompanied SATB? Which do you prefer? Yesterday at Mass, my volunteer choir gave you an opportunity to compare “apples to apples.” Simply click here and compare the first verse with the second. For the record, that melody is called by various names: ALTONA, VOM HIMMEL HOCH, ERFURT, and so on.
Simple “Salve Regina” • Its Origins
In the past, I have attempted to determine the origins of the “simple” Salve Regina chant. When it comes to the so-called “restored” plainsong books, the earliest instance I can find (of the simple version) is in the LIBER RESPONSORIALIS, published in 1895, a marvelous book based upon the groundbreaking research of Dom Joseph Pothier. […]
“I’ll Keep Your Secret, Choirmasters!” • (Tell Jeff)
She claimed she’d rather die than sing “womb” at Mass, since she considered it to be a medical term.
Mueller’s Artistic Credo • “Same But Different”
“Variety within a single Mass is important for engaging the listening ears (and singing voices) of the congregation.” —Chris Mueller
Do You Recognize This “Christmas” Tune?
Over the last 70 years, ST VENANTIUS has fallen out of favor. One reason might be that many harmonizations of it are “chunky.” I was pleased to see the Brébeuf Hymnal adopted the harmonization by Dom Gregory Murray (probably the finest ever created for ST VENANTIUS). This morning, I created this pipe organ recording. The […]
“Jesu Redemptor Omnium” • Translated into English
“Thou light, thou radiance of the Father, thou undying hope of all, pay heed to the prayers that thy servants pour forth throughout the earth…”
Encourage the Clergy to Sing
Those in the pews are like sheep listening for the voice of the Good Shepherd. Guest article by Mark Haas.
Pipeline to Heaven
The new chapel of Saint John Vianney College Seminary (SJV) is scaling new heights in beauty since its recent pipe organ installation.