Category Archives: Thoughts on Catholic Music
Curating Sacred Music
One of the wonderful things about the digital revolution is the almost obscene abundance of content.
One of the most frustrating things about the digital revolution is the almost obscene abundance of content.
Jerry Galipeau Responds & a Servant Model of Composition
The Church of Jesus Christ is not short on people seeking after power.
The Church of Jesus Christ is short on servants.
Sacred Music Pricing
There are a lot of real strong opinions all over the Internet (shocking!) about what other people should do with their work, their money, their time. I think making declarations about what is the good or right way to do these things is arrogant at best. I can offer only some suggestions, gleened from my observations in the Sacred Music world and my experience in the Secular world of internet business and marketing.
Reviews of Mass Settings with New Translations – OCP’s New Settings
The second in a series that started with reviews of GIA’s new Mass settings. Some hits and misses here, but OCP’s line up seems a bit better than GIA’s.
Top 10 Reasons Liberals, Progressives, and Heretics Should Sing Gregorian Chant
Do you really need 10 reasons? Well, here they are…
My Personal Church Music Preferences
Please note! The following has nothing to do with correct liturgical practices, or what would be pastorally appropriate in particular parish. It does not represent what I would actually do if put in charge. It does not represent my understanding of Sacrosanctum Concilium or the USCCB’s guidelines on anything. The following is what I, personally [...]
New ICEL Chants for the English Ordinary of the Roman Missal
Jeffrey Tucker, my new friend and leading candidate for the position of “my arch nemesis,” was kind enough to send me the entire set of the new ICEL chants that go with the new translation of the Roman Missal. First of all- thanks! Let me preface my thoughts on the new settings with some context [...]
The Constitution on the Divine Liturgy in the light of the “Reform of the Reform”
Some traditionalist Catholics simply deny the efficacy of Vatican II and the reforms that followed. But the more common trend these days, following the example of Benedict, is to reinterpret the work of the council. In this way,they move backwards toward a preconcilliar ideal (which many of the neo-traditionalists are, like me, too young to [...]
On Quality in Catholic Music
While NLM and I have some differences of opinions when it comes to what styles of music are appropriate for the Liturgy, I couldn’t agree more with their assessment of the quality of musicianship within the average Catholic parish. Let alone the “hard stuff” like Sacred Polyphony and organ preludes, most choir directors aren’t qualified [...]
The New Roman Missal
I have serious problem with the new translation of the Roman Missal. I have read as much of the text as I Can get a hold of online. And I’m not just liberal liturgist who wants to complain about the text being hard to sing. I have studied Latin, and can competently read and worship [...]