PDF Download • “A Canon Choirs Love!”
You will notice Father Guerrero takes the chant melody (“Beata Mater”) and creates a perfect canon between Soprano and Alto.
19 May 2022 • “Trochee Trouble”
I’m still trying to decide how to visually present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores, using what is (technically) the official rhythm of the Church. You can download my latest attempt, for this coming Sunday. Notice the “trochee trouble” as well as the old issue of neumes before the quilisma.
“Gregorian Chant Not In Danger Pope Tells French”
Actual headline from 9 April 1964.
PDF Download • “O Salutaris” (Modern Setting)
If there’s a more beautiful setting of this text, I don’t know what it could be.
PDF Download • 2022 “Vespers Booklet” (99 Pages)
If you spot typos, please let us know!
“Playing the Pipe Organ” • By Richard Nixon
Does the music of Franz Liszt belong to Adolf Hitler?
16 May 2022 • Harmonized Chant?
This year’s upcoming Sacred Music Symposium will demonstrate several ways to sing the CREDO at Mass. This is because—for many parishes—to sing a full-length polyphonic CREDO by Victoria or Palestrina is out of the question. Therefore, we show options that are halfway between plainsong and polyphony. You can hear my choir rehearsing a section that […]
Worst Chanting I’ve Ever Heard
The Supreme Court has been in the news lately.
14 May 2022 • “Pure” Vatican Edition
As readers know, my choir has been singing from the “pure” Editio Vaticana. That is to say, the official rhythm which—technically—is the only rhythm allowed by the Church. I haven’t figured out how I want the scores to look, so in the meantime we’ve been using temporary scores that look like this. Stay tuned!
14 May 2022 • Gorgeous Book
If there is a more beautiful book than Abbat Pothier’s 1888 Processionale Monasticum, I don’t know what it might be. This gorgeous tome was today added to the Saint John Lalande Online Library. I wish I owned a physical copy.
“Big Reveal” by the Symposium Committee
We are so pleased to welcome this priest!
“Yes or No?” • Thoughts On Singing The Creed
If his choir sounds terrible, why would you trust his advice?
Sound Familiar?
1 June 1579: “The chapter passes a rule that anyone ascending to the new organ without official permission shall be fined a month’s pay.” 26 October 1579: “The altar boys remain always separate and distinct from choirboys—the one group learning only plainchant and assisting at the altar, the other living with the chapel-master and studying […]
A “Dirty” Word (For Musicians)
Around the year 1955, “transcription” became a dirty word.
Choirs Love This Piece!
Back in 2001, I created an arrangement of “O Filii Et Filiae” based on the work of Monsignor Jules Van Nuffel. You can access free rehearsal videos at #5909. Choirs absolutely love singing this piece. You can hear my volunteer choir singing a live recording.