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Since this is my blog I can shamelessly promote all I want to! :-)

Ecce Quam Bonum Album Release

UPDATE:

The album is now available on iTunes here.

We are also available on Amazon.com MP3 download site.

Ecce Quam Bonum is also listed on all the other sites as well, like Napster.

Please consider supporting our school with your purchase.

The school's CD, Ecce Quam Bonum, is in production. However it has begun to appear on the web already. All proceeds go to the school, so please support us if you are able! You will get some nice music out of the deal, I promise. :-)

If you don't want to buy from DigStation.com, look for it soon on AmazonMP3, iTunes, and CDBaby shortly. It should also appear on Napster and wherever else digital music is sold.

Our stock of CDs should arrive by Friday. At that point I'll probably have a link for you to purchase an actual disc copy.

http://www.digstation.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?albumID=ALB000077535

Locus Iste

In honor of todays Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran I provide a link to the Sacred Music Colloquium XX attendees singing "Locus Iste" by Bruckner. Locus Iste is the gradual text for today.

Locus iste a Deo factus est,

inaestimabile sacramentum;
irreprehensibilis est.

This place was made by God,
a priceless sacrament;
beyond reproach.

Sacred Music Colloquium XX - Locus Iste (all attendees)

Music Update

I have entered an extremely busy couple of days.

Tomorrow I have a classes and a sung Requiem Mass. I have schola rehearsal in the evening. Then Saturday I will be gone all day to the Fr. Corapi event in New Jersey. Sunday I have two sung Masses for Christ the King, a procession afterwards, and then a schola rehearsal for All Saints the day after. On Monday I have two solemn high Masses for All Saints. Tuesday I have a sung Requiem Mass for All Souls with a procession afterwards (singing throughout) and then another Solemn High Mass Requiem in the evening at my parish which my students are also coming to sing at - so we have to transport them there.

That is 7 High Masses and 2 Processions in in 5 days!

And tonight I am blogging late because I had to update some SSL certificates on our server. My life is a bit hectic at the moment.

Very busy. Very rewarding. Come Wednesday I will be exhausted.

The music kids listen to these days...and yesterdays...

As readers know, I have started teaching Gregorian Chant and Sacred Music to high schoolers. It is not without hiccups and crosses, but so far I have been enjoying it a great deal. The students are ,for the most part, a lot of fun to work with.

The other day I was giving an impromptu piano lesson to a kid and he was relating to me how much he liked "praise and worship" music. It seemed odd at first because this is a traditionalist school. I asked him how he liked the chant we did in class and at Mass and he said he loved it and was trying to get a group together at home during his praise and worship sessions to sing it.

And it was then that I realized something I pretty much already knew - that many young people are not prejudiced one way or the other. When I was thirteen or so years old I went with my Presbyterian youth-group to Creation '92 which is a big Christian rock concert in a field that lasts for several days. I remember there were Catholics there and one of the announcers said to them "we love our Catholic brothers and sisters too!" They whooped and hollered. The music that weekend was emotionally charged and blaring. All the big names of the day were there: Amy Grant, Newsboys, etc... Then they asked everyone (20,000 people) who would like to be baptized again. Those who wanted to be baptized were to go over to a pond with a ministry team. Then a few minutes later they said there were too many to baptize. So they put the flood lights on the crowd and asked those who felt moved to stand and accept Jesus into their hearts. Feeling moved by the Spirit I stood up along with another girl in the youth group (there were people standing all over the place, it was huge.) And that was my moment of giving my life to Christ.

Nowadays I would wince at their view of baptism, and perhaps I would look with suspicion on the highly emotionally charged atmosphere. But as a 13 year old that is what I needed, and God brought good out of it.

Eventually I left that kind of music behind, I matured, fell in love with classical music, and found my way into the Catholic Church (much later). But if that music brings someone closer to God in a real way, how can I flat out discourage it? Certainly it isn't for Mass - but as devotional music it could be used as long as it doesn't lead one to error.

Which is what I told my student. I warned him about the anti-Catholic overtones in some of that music which he agreed were there - and it seemed like he knew how to find them.

So the next time you hear a Catholic youth singing or talking about the latest Christian rock band, hand them a Chant CD. I bet they will love it. Young people aren't prejudiced that way.

Two Colloquium Videos

Sacred Music Colloquium XX from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

CMAA Colloquium XX 2010 from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

Bump in the Road

The good priests who allowed me to incorporate Gregorian Chant and other forms of sacred music at my Saturday evening Novus Ordo parish have been transferred. I will be praying for them and their success in saving souls at their new parish. They are good men who are open to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and who are willing to allow him to operate. The care they gave to the people was genuine and very appreciated by all.

It appears the work done however over the past three years to help the cause of souls in this way through the promotion of truly sacred music may be hitting a bump in the road at that location. The new pastor seems unfamiliar with and somewhat uncomfortable with chant propers and Latin - the love of it by the parishioners notwithstanding.

But everyone will be getting used to each other over the next few months so there is not reason to despair. I hope we can work something out and will be praying to our good God that hearts will be opened and a way forward can be found.

So in your charity please pray for "Matt's Novus Ordo Parish" and in general for the cause of truly Sacred Music in our parishes.

Back from Colloquium

Well I'm finally home after the Sacred Music Colloquium. It was an incredibly tremendous experience and I am very glad to have been able to participate.

I always expect but am still always equally surprised at the natural fraternity shared by musicians. There is something different about our species that breaks down barriers instantly no matter the situation. From the first day the rooms were buzzing with conversation amongst people who had never met. It reminded me of a story that happened to me when I was in college...

One day I was in some history class in "Main Hall" and two non-music students sitting in front of me talking before it started.

"Have you ever been in the music building? I have a class in there and its unbelievable. They are always talking to each other and everyone is perpetually happy!" said one.

The other girl responded, "I know, what the heck are they so happy about? No other building is like that."

I interrupted them saying "Its because we're musicians. Its just the way we are."

Then class started. It struck me that they were right, the people in the other majors almost never spoke in the hallways...they were almost always gloomy, with a sort of blank look on their faces...at least in public. They were studying while we were playing.

The people at Colloquium come from all over the place and from all different kinds of backgrounds. But the instant bond was apparent amongst the 20 somethings and the Upper-Somethings. To add to the music, almost all of us had the Church in common...and we all wanted to talk about it, and talk about it, and talk about it.

The music itself was incredible and I was impressed a the level of musicianship of my fellow attendees. Even the less experienced came with an indefatigable enthusiasm that made up for their other deficiencies.

I hope I get to go next year. It was such a busy schedule that I never took the camera out of my bag. There are a phone pictures but that it. More later perhaps.

A new good work.

God works in great ways. I seems I have picked up a new part time job teaching Gregorian Chant and Sacred Polyphony at a local Catholic high school. We still need to get the paperwork and contract in order. A lot of it I already have done from the parish (background checks, etc.).

I'm very excited to begin this fall doing something I really love, which is sacred music. Please say a prayer for my success and guidance moving forward.

Feeling Medieval Today

Today for whatever reason I'm feeling rather medieval. This happens every once in a while that I begin to pine for the days of kings, queens, chivalry, saints, and the modest peasant life. It usually culminates in my searching for a new album to buy.

Today I purchased a CD of medieval ballads.. It sounds a little modern and I don't understand French but it has quelled my desire to hear a medieval troubadour walk by my house with a lute.



When thinking about the middle ages I generally leave out the plagues, starvation, famine, and a host of other unseemly things. There is a place in history for that stuff, but its not in my imagination. This was the age of the Faith, Kingdoms, and incredible art.

New CMAA DVD

Big Night for a New Choir

Tomorrow night is the "Big Night" for my new choir. I could not be more proud of the work and effort they have put in. Indeed we have had 6 weeks of rehearsals and I know they have also been practicing their parts individually...even making cheat sheets for Latin pronunciation. They are really into it. One woman will be sneaking out of her son's Christmas party in order to come sing the Mass with us after she has already been to another one.

We will be singing some traditional Christmas hymns, a special Responsorial Psalm from the Chabanel Psalms project, a special Gloria picked out by the pastor, Puer Nobis Nascitur from the Secunda book (that is a traditional 3 part treble choir book) for the Offertory, the Communion Antiphon In Splendoribus from the Graduale Romanum (modern notation...for now), and a rendition of Silent Night for Communion.

Last Saturday (vigil mass) I had them sing for Communion as a trial run. They sang Creator Alme Siderum, which is the "traditional" Vespers hymn for the Advent season. They did great!

On top of everything else they presented me with a Christmas gift last night as an appreciation, which I did not expect. The Priest's new album Harmony is importing into my Mac as I type this.

Premium Calfskin Liber Usualis

I have become a fan of the Bible Design and Binding Blog, which specializes in showing off incredibly bound Bibles with copious pictures. All of the Bibles there are protestant (FYI) but we can learn great lessons as Catholics on how good books, indeed the Good Book, should be bound and covered. When it was time to rebind my, Liber which had a deteriorating hard cover, I knew whose blog sidebar would take me to the proper bindery. Go take a look around at the blog and you will see that as Catholics we are way behind...

There is probably little doubt that this Liber Usualis is now the only one like it. I had it redone in a Premium Calfskin Leather cover with new ribbons. Just take a look.

Gold foil stamping and new ribbons did not cost any extra. The stamping is very well done but the ribbons are a bit extravagant for my tastes. Nonetheless it is a nice job. The book lays flat when opened and will loosen (improve) with time and use. My apologies for the crummy pictures. I had bad light. In the future I may re-shoot them.

The cover feels like butter in the hand. It is a wonder to hold and sing from this now during the Mass. Fine books for fine liturgy.

The flap on the inside cover protects the binding and allows the book to open freely for many years.

This is great craftsmanship. I have two more books waiting to be sent out, a Breviary and a Knox translation Bible. We will be having a much needed conversation about book binding on this blog shortly! I had this bound by McSpadden Bookbindery in Oklahoma. I highly recommend their shop.

Advent and Rorate Coeli

My friend Chrissy over at Living in the Midwest put up a nice post on Advent which everyone should go and read. Advent has long been my favorite time of the year even before entering the Church. I think that is because at this time of the year I am reminded that the world still needs its Savior to come. Even though he was already, and still is, here with us even to the end of time, the work is not complete. And so the Church gives us reminders of his second coming for us to think about.

But what are all the lights, gifts. and the pre-Christmas bustle all about? People turn to material things to make up what is lacking in themselves. They are searching for the Savior. At this time of the year material things have taken the place of the true Savior but the desire in society is still the same. Its just that some have rejected the true One. There is no true happiness apart from God. As St. Augustine famously put it "Our hearts are restless Lord, until they rest in Thee." Society tries to solve its restlessness with material things. Its flipped upsidedown. Outside things cannot make you inwardly happy.

Those people who have rejected Christ are, whether they know it or not, still waiting for Him. They are waiting for the houseguest at the wrong entrance.


Check out Isaiah 45:8f

8 Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened, and bud forth a saviour: and let justice spring up together: I the Lord have created him. 9 Woe to him that gainsayeth his maker, a sherd of the earthen pots: shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it: What art thou making, and thy work is without hands?
10 Woe to him that saith to his father: Why begettest thou? and to the woman: Why dost thou bring forth?
11 Thus saith the Lord the Holy One of Israel, his maker: Ask me of things to come, concerning my children, and concerning the work of my hands give ye charge to me.
12 I made the earth: and I created man upon it: my hand stretched forth the heavens, and I have commanded all their host.
13 I have raised him up to justice, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and let go my captives, not for ransom, nor for presents, saith the Lord the God of hosts.

The forgotten Hymn of the Roman Liturgy in most modern parishes today, has been for a while now my absolute favorite of the entire year. Of course, it is the Rorate Coeli.

Rorate Coeli

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

Be not angry, O Lord, and remember no longer our iniquity : behold the city of thy sanctuary is become a desert, Sion is made a desert. Jerusalem is desolate, the house of our holiness and of thy glory, where our fathers praised thee.

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

We have sinned, and we are become as one unclean, and we have all fallen as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast crushed us by the hand of our iniquity.

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

See, O Lord, the affliction of thy people, and send him whom thou hast promised to send. Send forth the Lamb, the ruler of the earth, from the rock of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion, that he himself may take off the yoke of our captivity.

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

Be comforted, be comforted, my people; thy salvation shall speedily come. Why wilt thou waste away in sadness? why hath sorrow seized thee? I will save thee; fear not: for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer.

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

Translation from this site.

Breakin out the Chant

Last evening I took a slight chance while playing the Ordinary Form Mass. I broke out the Gregorian Chant.

As it was the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the entrance antiphon is: (Rorate Caeli) "Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior" according to 70s ICEL. Of course this being the modern Roman rite, almost nobody knows what that is anymore. We sang "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." Very appropriate...but 4 Sundays in a row. So I decided to borrow the Liber Cantualis organ accompaniment from my Latin Mass parish to sing the Rorate Caeli chant during communion. The text and melody are too fantastic to pass up

I was a little bit apprehensive to do this, because I didn't know what the reaction would be to an obvious Chant being sung in the middle of an Ordinary form Mass. Beforehand I spoke to the regular organist (I play every other week) and he said go for it. Apparently he's sung latin during communion before and the people seemed to enjoy it.

So as the people's communion began I received and then went back to the organ, gave myself a note and started. The chant seemed to suck the air out of the room. All of a sudden the modern, red carpet theater style parish all but vanished and a sacred space emerged. Everything instantly became reverent and nobody seemed to mind. All smiles afterward as well.

A great and repeatable success! Tomorrow at the Christmas Vigil mass I'm going to sing/play an appropriate Christmas chant and hopefully all of these 2 time a year people will get a little more out of it this time around.

Rorate Caeli Translation (non-ICEL)
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

See, O Lord, the affliction of thy people, and send him whom thou hast promised to send. Send forth the Lamb, the ruler of the earth, from the rock of the desert to the mount of the daughter of Sion, that he himself may take off the yoke of our captivity.

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

Be comforted, be comforted, my people; thy salvation shall speedily come. Why wilt thou waste away in sadness? why hath sorrow seized thee? I will save thee; fear not: for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer.

Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.

Latin Christmas Carols

Sing this to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, seriously, it works. A hat tip goes to Father Roderick , the Catholic Insider for this way cool fun link he gave us in today's Daily Breakfast.

Reno erat Rudolphus
Nasum rubrum habebat;
Si quando hunc videbas,
Hunc candere tu dicas.

Omnes renores alii
Semper hunc deridebant;
Cum misero Rudolpho
In ludis non ludebant.

Santus Nicholas dixit
Nocte nebulae,
"Rudolphe, naso claro
Nonne carrum tu duces?"

Tum renores clamabant,
"Rudolphe, delectus es!
Cum naso rubro claro
Historia descendes!"


Here's the site it comes from: Latin Christmas Carols You can get another carol for every day of December. Better yet, you can buy the CD as well...