Sacred Music • Inspiring Letter From “Jane Doe”
Letters like this prove there are still awesome people in this world!
Understanding “Bewitched” Can Help You Appreciate Classical Music
There was no explanation given for why “Darrin Stephens” was suddenly a completely different person.
Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Jeff’s Third Response to Patrick” (16 May 2023)
I don’t think our readers are interested in what we say about Gregorian rhythm—they’re interested only in what we can demonstrate.
Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year’s Sacred Music Symposium. If you’re interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of […]
PDF Download • César Franck Book of Gregorian Chant Accompaniments (156 Pages)
“The organ is so universally used as an accompanying instrument today that there is a pressing need to provide a written accompaniment…” —César Franck
FEEDBACK • 15 May 2023
From a reader in New Hampshire: “I just love your articles and resources! You provide an excellent resource!”
PDF Download • Extremely Rare! Organ Accompaniment Book (165 pages)
Including an “added bonus” I discovered while researching Julius Bas (an Italian musicologist and organist).
7 Suggestions • “Winning the Sacred Music Crusade”
If we truly believe what we say we believe, how can we allow goofy, off-Broadway, secular, casual music at Mass?
Vespers Accompaniment Booklet
A VESPERS ACCOMPANIMENT BOOKLET (20 pages) for this coming Sunday—the 5th Sunday after Easter—can now be downloaded. Those who sing Vespers exactly as given in the ANTIPHONALE ROMANUM will notice that all five psalms for Eastertide are sung according to the exact same tone with the exact same differentiæ. Can someone explain why this is? […]
Symposium Booklet (330 Pages)
As of 6 May 2023, anyone who wishes to may download the COMPLETED BOOKLET (330 pages) which was created for participants of Sacred Music Symposium 2023. Those who were accepted to participate in this year’s conference will be presented with their own (hard-copy) printed version of this breathtaking booklet. The faculty this year includes Professor […]
6 May 2023 • FEEDBACK
Examples of comments we recently received, from all over the globe: (1) “The Byrd composition your student sung was certainly beautiful. I cannot say how thankful I am for all that CCWATERSHED does in the world of sacred music. The videos, and recorded audios and newsletters are wonderful and beautiful. When you said that […]
PDF Download • “Brief Choral Alleluia” (Suitable for the Ordinary and Extraordinary Form)
Too many priests are ignorant of the glories of authentic sacred music.
PDF Download • “Vespers Accompaniment Booklet” (Fifth Sunday after Easter) — 20 pages
To recruit, teach, inspire, and retain volunteer choir members is no easy task!
Six (6) Pernicious Hymn Pairings
The current situation is heartbreaking.
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.”