Some Advice • “Recruiting Choir Members”
How does the conscientious choirmaster get this snowball rolling?
25 May 2024 • FEEDBACK
We get tons of messages from readers; perhaps we should do a better job sharing them. In 2010, composer Dan Schutte published “Mass of Christ the Savior,” based upon the theme song from the My Little Pony television cartoon. Earlier today, someone under the moniker “Praying Girl” wrote as follows: “I wonder how many people […]
PDF Download • “Saint Dunstan Hymnal” (158 pages)
How close are Anglicans to Catholics, in terms of their religious practices?
Take the “Hymn Quiz!”
How well do you know hymnody? A few days ago, we recorded this really beautiful hymn as part of a Roman Catholic Spanish hymnal project we’re helping with. Can you name that tune? (We’re looking for the correct name of the melody.) If you give up—or if you want to verify your answer—click here for […]
PDF • “Propers in figured notation”
Jennifer Urquhart wrote to us: “I’m currently involved in providing music for a non-specialist choir which will sing a TLM for the Sacred Heart. Since those propers changed in 1929, the one in the figured Liber Usualis (1924) now has the wrong texts.” Jennifer placed those propers into modern notation, which you can download as […]
“Hail Redeemer, King Divine”
Click here to listen to our 100% volunteer choir singing this famous hymn without organ. By way of comparison, you can hear the same choir sing that hymn accompanied by the pipe organ if you click here. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Please feel free to email me and tell me which you like better.
Choir Members Can’t Get Enough of This Piece
An English translation of “Veni Creator Spiritus.”
ABC’s “The View” Attacks the Traditional Latin Mass
If you were arrested and charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
PDF Download • SATB “Kyrie” for Small Choirs
This SATB setting by Father Francisco Guerrero is brief but magnificent.
When Dr. Calabrese Addressed Me Personally
Including a ‘live’ recording of the Church’s oldest Latin Eucharistic Hymn, which comes from a 7th-century Irish manuscript.
Documentation • “In the Olden Days, Was Vernacular Sung During Liturgical Services?”
Including a splendid harmonization of “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.”
Organ Accomp. • “Ascension Hymn at Vespers”
The soul-stirring hymn used on ASCENSION THURSDAY at Vespers—and also used on the Sunday which follows the Ascension—was called in the 7th century: “Jesu Nostra Redemptio.” After 1631AD, the title of that hymn was changed to “Salutis Humanae Sator.” The melody assigned by the Vatican Commission on Gregorian Chant is rather mournful (and very difficult […]
“For The First Time” • Our Choir Sings In Spanish!
That changed last week!
Hymn for the Ascension
Here is a ‘live’ recording from the Mass on Ascension Thursday (2024): Hymn for the Ascension. I could not be prouder of this parish choir, which consists 100% of volunteers. To learn more about this hymn, please visit #704 in the hymn portal. I have argued that—in addition to CARMEN GREGORIANUM, organ music, and polyphony—hymns […]
“Praise To The Lord” • Simple Accomp.
In case you missed the full article I posted the other day on Views from the Choir Loft, feel free to download a PDF version of my simplified organ accompaniment for the famous hymn “Praise To The Lord,” which is often paired with LOBE DEN HERREN. I’m toying with the idea of creating a whole […]