“Entrance Chant” • 4th Sunday of Advent
Like so many Advent antiphons, this one is in the first mode and comes from the prophet Isaiah.
Carmen Gregorianum
PDF Download • Pristine Scan: Father Mathias’ 1905 Kyriale Organ Accompaniment (186 pages)
Father Mathias served as organist for Strasburg Cathedral, where he founded the “Saint Leo Institute for Church Music” in 1913.
“Quotation” • Pope Pius X on Plainsong
“That would be to me the finest triumph sacred music could have…” —Giuseppe Cardinal Sarto (1897)
Huge Discovery! • Rare Document Explains Why There’s a “Spoken” Version of the Propers
His statement is not only foolish, it approaches heresy!
“Entrance Chant” for this Coming Sunday • Jeff Attempts to Accompany Himself on the Organ
Singing Gregorian Chant lifts one’s spirits. Agree or disagree?
“All Saints” • Jeff Ostrowski Tries to Simultaneously Accompany His Voice on the Organ
Although it beggars belief, in his entire life Father Josef A. Jungmann never celebrated a sung Mass—not one!
Pop Quiz • “How Well Do You Know Plainchant?”
Re: the “Communion Antiphon” for the Feast of All Saints (November 1st).
The Truth About Chant Modality
It’s distressing to observe (in certain in quarters) an immature understanding of modality.
English Plainchant Revival • “Is It Real?”
Let Busoni’s statement serve as a reminder to Catholic music directors everywhere.
PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” in English (26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B)
Sometimes one hears the objection: “But Gregorian Chant was not originally accompanied on the organ…”
PDF Download • “Entrance Chant” for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Years ABC)
Including ten (10) alternate versions!
Excellent Choral Sound • “How Best Obtain This?”
Without rehearsal time, what can be done?
Documentation • “In the Olden Days, Was Vernacular Sung During Liturgical Services?”
Including a splendid harmonization of “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.”
A Couple of Recent Podcast Appearances
I’ve participated in some recent conversations about chant that might be of interest to our readers.
Update (25 April) • “Forthcoming Spanish Hymnal”
“When our people have the courage to break resolutely with a bad tradition, there are unworked mines of religious poetry in the old hymns that we can use in translations.” —Father Adrian Fortescue