Gradual from Abbey of St. Vaast

A Gradual from the Abbey of St. Vaast at Arras, France, form the early XI Century.

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About Matthew Frederes

Mr. Frederes is a software engineer, pilot, served as an organist for 31 years, and directed small parish choirs/scholas for 22 years. He and his wife have 12 children. —(Read full biography).

“Music List” • 3rd Sunday (Ord. Time)

Some have expressed interest in perusing the “ORDER OF MUSIC” I prepared for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (26 January 2025). If such a thing interests you, feel free to download it as a PDF file. The ENTRANCE CHANT and OFFERTORY ANTIPHON both strike me as particularly beautiful.

—Jeff Ostrowski

Only Every Three Years…

You can download the Singer’s Score (PDF) of the COMMUNION ANTIPHON for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). It comes from the book of Nehemiah, and is quite beautiful. You can listen to a rehearsal video I created for my singers. This piece—originally sung on the Ember Wednesday of September—is only sung every three years in the ORDINARY FORM.

—Jeff Ostrowski

“Entrance Chant” • 3rd Sunday (Ord. Time)

For this coming Sunday, short-but-sweet certainly applies! You can download the ENTRANCE ANTIPHON in English for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (26 January 2025). Corresponding to the vocalist score is this free organ accompaniment. If you’re someone who enjoys rehearsal videos, this morning I attempted to sing it while simultaneously accompanying my voice on the pipe organ.

—Jeff Ostrowski

The Lofty Nature of This Goal

It is important above all that we never lose sight of our true goal as church musicians: the right worship of Almighty God. This is not a pious sentiment that should cause us to be lax about technical elements of music. Rather, the lofty nature of this goal is should motivate and inspire us to pursue the techne of musicianship with even greater zeal.

—Dr. Samuel Backman

Our Lady of Good Success Novena (+ Antiphon)

Today starts a Novena to Our Lady of Good Success. Curiously, there is an Antiphon included towards the end of each day’s prayers which looks very similar to this one.

—Veronica Brandt

Don’t Be Fooled by a Late Easter

Isn’t it wonderful to come back to rehearsals after a brief Christmas recess and realize Easter doesn’t come until April 20? It’s tempting to be very relaxed about progress, but I’m trying to keep a sense of momentum. Though I will probably spend a bit of extra time working on vocal production issues with my choir, I want to have all our Triduum and Easter music well in hand by the end of March. That way, we can spend our April rehearsals polishing rather than frantically learning notes.

—Keven Smith