Singing Bach At Mass? • “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
I wouldn’t argue if somebody made the claim that Sebastian Bach was “the most musical person who ever lived.”
PDF Download • Simplified Accompaniment for the famous Hymn: “Praise To The Lord”
According to Monsignor Franz Stemmer, the famous hymn “Praise to the Lord” originally came from the 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘦𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘩 (1665).
Organ Accompaniment Booklet (20 pages)
This coming Sunday in the Extraordinary Form will be the Fifth Sunday after Easter. Each week, everyone can freely visit this page, downloading such booklets (as it were) directly from the source. Nevertheless, I’d like to draw your attention to the ORGAN ACCOMPANIMENT BOOKLET (20 pages) for Vespers in the Extraordinary Form: Dominica V Post […]
Random Psalm Tone! • (1962 Weddings)
I believe it’s better to sing a Psalm Tone with excellence rather than attempt the authentic CARMEN GREGORIANUM (Gregorian Chant) in a plodding, lifeless, poorly-executed way. To that end, I have created this Fifth Mode Psalm Tone version for the COMMUNION CHANT assigned to 1962 Missal weddings. The Nuptial Mass is sometimes called “Pro Sponso […]
Update (25 April) • “Forthcoming Spanish Hymnal”
“When our people have the courage to break resolutely with a bad tradition, there are unworked mines of religious poetry in the old hymns that we can use in translations.” —Father Adrian Fortescue
Three Easter Hymns Sung Three Different Ways!
There was deep division in Chicago between those who cheered for the Cubs and those who cheered for the White Sox.
Near “Occasions” of Sin, Forgiveness, Psalms, Hymns, and the Artistic Temperament
Rachmaninoff never forgave Prokofiev for this, as anyone with a melancholic temperament will understand.
PDF Download • “Wedding Sheet” (Showing Prices)
Being hired as organist or choirmaster for Catholic weddings can be stressful.
Can Your Choir Members Do This?
How many of your choir members can do this? (a) Recite the Tantum Ergo from memory; (b) Explain where the piece comes from and when specifically—during HOLY WEEK—it’s used; (c) Provide a literal translation (from memory, without looking in a book). This nifty one-page sheet (PDF) might be worth downloading if you’re worried some of […]
Announcement! • “New Spanish Hymnal”
We seek native speakers willing to help proofread.
PDF Download • Spanish Responsorial Psalm — “17th Sunday in Ordinary Time” (Year B)
We must never let criticism by ‘haters’ bother us. We must strive to block them from our minds.
PDF Download • “Freiburg Cathedral Hymnal” (Organ Accompaniment) — 308 Pages!
The most comprehensive German hymnal ever printed? Well, this masterpiece by Monsignor Stemmer is certainly in the top five!
“Banish Wrong Notes!” • Hymns Simplified
In the past, I’ve mentioned how I can’t stand hearing wrong notes. I was playing LLANFAIR the other day, and I was hitting wrong notes. Earlier today, I created a simplified version which you can download for free. This famous tune (“LLANFAIR”) is often used on the feast of the Ascension, with “Hail the Day […]
PDF Download • Responsorial Psalm for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
“This argument from silence is wildly improbable.” —Father John Parsons (2001)
Jeff Writes A Song About Dr. Weaver And Himself
This article—a “mini-dissertation” on syllabic plainsong—writes songs using the names of various CCW authors.