Catholic liturgical music is serious, solemn, transcendent, but Catholic musicians are never more fun and inspiring than when they are talking about what they love most. This is what happens at sacred music events around the world: the social and intellectual are critically important elements. The musicians (and music enthusiasts) at the Chant Café, a project of the
Church Music Association of America, bring that sense of life and love to the digital world. As St. Augustine said, "Cantare amantis est."
Among the contributors:
Also past contributors:
Jeffrey Tucker, writer, editor, entrepreneur, musician |
archiveNick Gale (1975-2015), organist, choral director, for 13 years Master of the Music at the Cathedral of St. George in Southwark |
archiveBen, schola director and organ student |
archive
e-mail:
contact@chantcafe.com
I hope it all goes well. I am furious not to be able to attend myself.
You could attend Spode Music Week instead, Nick. Chant and polyphony every day, orchestra, recitals, lectures and a bar. Oh, and it's in Tunbridge Wells, so no 9 hour flight!
Hehe! Indeed! The Bevan clan!
Just one or two, Nick!
Monteverdi Vespers and Panufnick mass this year, too. You should drop by.
Well, add a few members of the Ross clan too! I will do my best. Which Panufnick Mass? There are 3 now
You know – I don't know. I shall enquire.
Apart from that, further details are on the website.
ps add a few Whites, too, and quite a few others in smaller numbers and singly.
Ah, how could I forget the Whites? The 3 families – all you need is 2 more families! Reminds me of a certain film trilogy!
May I ask: that's not carpeting in the chapel, is it?
Looks suspiciously like it Todd….
Give me a creaky wooden floor over wall-to-wall carpet any day.
No one noticed the carpet, Todd. It was Compline.
Not sure what the Hour has to do with noticing anything. The building in which one sings is inextricably part of the instrument. I can't not notice acoustics any more than I can ignore a cough or a broken string.
We are really guests at Duquesne and can't very well rip up the carpet in the chapel. It is not a problem because the room is small and used just for morning and night prayer. The parish down the street we use for Mass.
"We … can't very well rip up the carpet in the chapel."
We can dream, can't we?
What did you sing at Compline that the acoustics didn't seem to matter?
I would have thought it was the prayer offered that is more important than worrying about acoustics Todd – after all, it's not a concert, it's prayer, therefore the acoustics DON'T matter do they?!
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I'm with Todd's loathing of the post-Conciliar carpet.
I was going to say "Now who put that carpet up in there!?!?"
– You guys beat me to it…haha
Nick, the acoustics always matter, especially for the assembly.
Naturally, I'd expect the faith, spirit, and musical abilities of the Colloquium members to overcome the acoustical challenges of that chapel. It's not a big deal, really, but a curious choice for music that depends more on resonance in the worship space than, say, a Germanic-language vernacular. Or a recited rather than sung liturgy.
Really I don't know how we got on this carpet thing. It is for 7am morning prayer and 10pm evening prayer and no more – a very intimate setting and we are very grateful to the university for letting us use the space. These are not really times for polyphonic or anything else. One should be able to sing and pray the office anywhere really. Even so, it is a very pretty place.
The main liturgy is in the Church of the Epiphany down the street.
To be honest, I didn't even notice there was carpet until someone mentioned it the next day at lunch. With the number of people we have, the enthusiasm with which they sing, and the easy-to-chant material, it doesn't matter much.
Well said Anon
Nick,
In answer to you question: we're singing Panufnick's Westminster Mass at Spode Music Week this year. It will be directed by Philip Duffy.
And I expect we'll overcome the Chapel's carpet.
AH, the English one – and the best actually, especially with strings, harp and tubular bells. Shame the revision of the translation will screw up the Gloria – I think the Sanctus could be re-written and obviously the K and AD won't change. Are you doing the Deus, meus too? That's to die for!
I don't know. Perhaps I should send in a report from Music Week. Maybe you'd like to come over for one of the lectures (e.g. Emma Hornby on Old Hispanic chant), or the end-of-course mass when the Panufnick will be sung, and cover it yourself – it would be great to see you there. I'll let you know the timetable when it's available.