“Homily for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
“I never really understand this psalm until I entered the Franciscan Novitiate in 1942…”
Myth Re: Johann Sebastian Bach
Some musicologists try to make a “splash” by saying that Bach was totally forgotten when he died—remembered only as an organ virtuoso—and that his sons were more famous than he was. Such an idea is indefensible. It is true that musical styles changed in 1750AD—but this is normal. Musical styles change constantly; e.g. much of […]
Arthur Friedheim, Franz Liszt’s Secretary
Arthur Friedheim (d. 1932) has a very poor reputation as a pianist, and Liszt rejected him several times before finally accepting him as a pupil, yet the Liszt recordings he left are quite good—especially considering the transgressions by other Liszt pupils. Friedheim must have been an amazing musician; twice he was asked to become conductor […]
More on the Mystery Book
Examples: Non Abluunt Lymphae Deum, Rebus Creatis Nil Egens, Salve Caput Cruentatum, Sancti Venite, Victis Sibi Cognomina, Hoste Dum Victo Triumphans, and Jam Desinant Suspiria.
Homily — “Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Mother” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
During World War II, Catholic churches were filled on Friday evenings for the Sorrowful Mother Novena and Benediction.
13th Anniversary of “Summorum Pontificum”
“The cemeteries are filled……”
“A blast from the past”
Consilium document (“Instantibus Pluribus”) to presidents of the national liturgical commissions, on norms for translation of the Graduale Simplex, dated 23 January 1968: “The types of chant in the Graduale Simplex may be adapted to the style of music and song typical of individual peoples. But any sort of secular or profane melody is excluded.”
PDF Download • 1928 “Invitatory” (86 pages)
The “invitatory” occurs at the beginning of Matins and therefore introduces the daily divine Office.
“Homily — 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A” • Father Valentine Young, OFM
“Often, the person who did us harm won’t even know that we’re still stewing over what they did to us; and if they knew, they might even be glad.”
Jeff Ostrowski • “Three Rules For Good Music”
But we have not spoken very much about Baroque music…
Important Message To Fathers
“Kids don’t remember this…”
(Installment #6) “Catholic Hymnals” • Jeff Ostrowski
How to avoid that sickening feeling when you realize nobody—and I mean nobody—in the congregation knows the hymn you picked!
“Homily for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM
“If worry did any good, I would advise you to do it—but it is wasted time and energy.”
Sir Richard Terry: Hymns, Congregational Singing, and Avoiding “Violence” to the Elders
Terry was forced to resign from the Cathedral in 1924, partially due to his “inconsistent approach to congregational singing at the Cathedral.”
3 September 2020 • Tausig, Liszt’s student
When Polish virtuoso Carl Tausig died in 1871 at the age of thirty, Franz Liszt said to Anton Rubinstein: “Now there are only two of us left in the world.” Liszt had sent Tausig to Richard Wagner, who wrote as follows: You have given me great pleasure with little Tausig. […] He is a terrible […]