Five Reflections • “The ‘Church’ of My Youth Was Coming to an End”
When the Lord finally calls me home, I have no plans to trip over “eagle’s wings” on my way to the cemetery.
“Is it not true that prohibiting or suspecting the extraordinary form can only be inspired by the demon who desires our suffocation and spiritual death?” —The Vatican’s chief liturgist from 2014-2021; interview with Edw. Pentin (23-Sep-2019)
Dr. Lucas Tappan is a conductor and organist whose specialty is working with children. He lives in Kansas with his wife and four children.—Read full biography (with photographs).
When the Lord finally calls me home, I have no plans to trip over “eagle’s wings” on my way to the cemetery.
“He’ll hold a position of national importance, especially in the eyes of those who work toward Catholic sacred music’s renewal from sea to shining sea.” —Dr. Tappan
“What follows are a few tricks that have greatly aided students with me from a young age…” —Dr. Tappan
I can affirm that our first concert was a resounding success: everything from Allegri’s 𝑀𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑟𝑒 to the 10-year-old boy playing Bach.
I will be privileged to field your questions alongside two well known and widely respected church musicians: Mary Ann Carr Wilson and Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka.
What happened to this masculine presence in all things musical in the United States?
My assistant and I recently had the privilege while in England to have lunch with Dr. Ronny Krippner…
“And yet I may live and die a true and perfect member of his holy Catholic Church without which I believe there is no salvation for me.” —William Byrd
I mentioned to my (much younger) assistant that certain battles I will no longer fight. She told me I was becoming bitter—but I can honestly say that isn’t the case.
In my own diocese, “The Catholic Academy of Sacred Music” was incorporated for that very purpose last summer.
“Make it an unbreakable rule to ingrain the rudiments of music theory into the very bones of the beginning student, preferably before the age of nine or ten.” —Dr. Lucas Tappan
Thirty years ago most pastors would not have been open to inaugurating good sacred music programs in their parishes, but times have changed.
These were two joyful, yet profitable, weeks spent with a dedicated group of devout Catholics…
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