Author: Adam Bartlett

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

Steven van Roode’s ‘Klein Graduale’ in use in the Netherlands

This past Sunday, at the Mass televised on Dutch national television, two pieces from Steven van Roode’s Klein Graduale were sung: the responsorial psalm and the verse before the Gospel. Here is the video:

The Mass was celebrated by Mgsr. Van den Hende, bishop of Breda at St. Quirinus Church in Halsteren, and the choir is the Cantorij of Hortus Musicus Religiosus from Bergen op Zoom, directed by Marcel van Westen.

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

Liturgical Institute ‘Hillenbrand Scholarship Fund’

As a follow up to yesterday’s post on the upcoming sacred music conference at the Liturgical Institute, I would like to draw your attention to the institute’s newly established Hillenbrand Scholarship Fund.

If you liked what you saw in the LI informational video and believe in the institute’s vision for liturgical renewal, would you consider supporting the institute this Lent with your prayer and with a financial contribution?

From the scholarship website:

Please pray for our program and our students. We are eager to do what the Church asks of us!

Also, please consider how God has blessed you and how you might help our students receive the training they need to bring reverent, prayerful and beautiful liturgy and liturgical education to you and the next generation of Catholic faithful.

There are no overhead costs — 100% of the donation you make to the Hillenbrand Scholarship Fund will help a student attend our programs.

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

Roman Missal Training for Church Musicians at the Liturgical Institute


The Liturgical Institute of St. Mary of the Lake University in Mundelein, IL is holding a two day conference on April 8th and 9th for Church Musicians in preparation for the revised translation of the Roman Missal. The conference is an extension of the Mystical Body Mystical Voice program which provides catechesis and resources for the implementation of the Roman Missal on the parish level. The presenters are Fr. Douglas Martis (Institute Director), Christopher Carstens (Director of the Office of Worship, LaCrosse), and Fr. John-Mark Missio (Church Musician).

Here is a quick look at the five sessions that are being presented, all of which are immersed in chanted Morning Prayer, Midday Prayer, Vespers, and Mass:

Session I: A Liturgical Primer
The Word Made Flesh: A liturgical primer considering the Trinity as a divine love song in which we participate as members of Christ’s Mystical Body

Session II: Maturing in the Word: Liturgical Texts
A scriptural, historical and theological exploration of the principal sung parts of the Mass

Session III: The Song of the Mystical Body
An exploration of the singing of scriptural texts in the liturgy with attention to proper texts, and the selection of hymns and canticles in their place

Session IV: A Mystical Sound for the Mystical Body?
The chants of the new Missal as a point of contact with the sound of the Roman Rite

Session V: Hymns and Propers in Theory and Practice
A survey of vernacular settings of the Propers and similar repertoire

The Liturgical Institute is renowned for its orthodox liturgical theology and fidelity to the Mind of the Church. The question has been asked, though, if the Institute does anything to advance orthodox sacred music practice in addition to this. Judging from the content of this conference the answer clearly is YES!

For REGISTRATION and more information on the conference CLICK HERE.

And lastly, here is a wonderful video that describes in more detail what the Liturgical Institute is all about.

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

USCCB announces “NABRE”

The USCCB website now has an announcement for the release of the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE). The revision of the NAB is the end of a long and arduous translation process, yet I do not believe that it will replace the translation in Lectionary for Mass. We have been told that we shouldn’t expect a revision of the Lectionary for another 10 years.

The news release on the USCCB website is a few days early and has been marketed with the tagline “Love Your NABRE”. Here is the release, followed by a very pertinent video commentary:

Released on March 9, 2011, the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) is the culmination of nearly 20 years of work by a group of nearly 100 scholars and theologians, including bishops, revisers and editors. The NABRE includes a newly revised translation of the entire Old Testament (including the Book of Psalms) along with the 1986 edition of the New Testament.

The NABRE is a formal equivalent translation of Sacred Scripture, sponsored by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, using the best manuscripts available. Work on most books of the Old Testament by forty revisers and a board of eight editors began in 1994 and was completed in 2001. The 1991 revision of the Psalter, the work of thirty revisers and six editors, was further revised by seven revisers and two editors between 2009 and 2010. Work on the New Testament, begun in 1978 and completed in 1986, was the work of thirteen revisers and five editors.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops does not sell Bibles. The publishers listed below are licensed to publish the NABRE. Various editions will be available soon in Catholic bookstores and from online book retailers.

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

New Collection of Responsorial Psalms and Gospel Verses: Lenten Sample

A new collection of Responsorial Psalms, Alleluias and Gospel Verses for the liturgical year is currently in preparation. The antiphons are composed by Fr. Columba Kelly OSB and the collection is edited by myself.

Here is a sample for download that includes all Responsorial Psalms and Gospel Verses, along with a Lenten Gospel Acclamation for the Lenten Season, Year A:

DOWNLOAD HERE

The method utilized here is very similar to the Simple English Propers project. The psalm tones and system of pointing are the same. The antiphons are not formulaic, but are through-composed. Some of the psalm tones are composed by Fr. Samuel Weber OSB, and others, in a similar way, I arranged myself.

The hope is that this collection will harmonize nicely with the Simple English Propers collection. I have been using these very settings in my own parish for nearly two years and they are sung well and beautifully by all. They add a wonderful dignity to the Liturgy of the Word and add a solemn splendor to the proclaimed Word of God.

I welcome feedback on these settings and would love to hear from the community if a complete collection along these lines would be a useful and effective collection for you. Let me know your thoughts!

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

Happy 75th Birthday to Cardinal Mahony

Today is Roger Cardinal Mahony’s 75th birthday, and thus the day of his mandatory retirement. We have learned that Pope Benedict has sent along his birthday wishes with a special birthday cake from the papal bakery.


In a liturgy this morning in the Los Angeles Cathedral the torch was handed on to Bishop Jose Gomes, Mahony’s successor and priest of Opus Dei. Let us offer our prayers for Bishop Gomes and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as they open this new chapter.

Here is a video of the closing liturgy of Mahony’s last R. E. Congress. I wonder if there will be a dancing deacon in the entrance procession this year?

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

St. Basil’s 2011 Winter Chant Workshop

St. Basil’s School of Gregorian Chant is holding its 2011 Winter Chant Workshop next week from March 2nd to March 5th at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.

The workshop will feature guest conductor and instructor Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB of St. Meinrad Archabbey.

Sessions will cover topics ranging from musical settings of the new translation of the Roman Missal, the principles of Gregorian Semiology, and singing chant in Latin and English.

For more information see the St. Basil’s website.

Below are the weekly schedule and curriculum. They look to be packed to the brim!

WEDNESDAY:

EVENING ADDRESS:
Fr. Columba Kelly, OSB: “Chant as the foundation of modern music, and foundation of all composition of Liturgical Music”.

THURSDAY:

MORNING SESSION 1:
The ancient oral origins of chant, its rhythm and dynamic structure. the liturgy prayed and sung. Missa Primitiva, Kyrie, the psalms of compline.

MORNING SESSION 2:
Semiology discovered: The restoration of Gregorian Chant by Solemnes. The foundations of singing chant. The Missa Primitiva, Sanctus, The “Ave Regina Coelorum”, Compline psalms.

AFTERNOON SESSION: 3
A Master Chant Class including University students and faculty. Historical development of chant, rediscovery of semiology. Sample schola performance. “Puer natus est” Introit from Christmas Day. “Dixit Domiuns”, communion from Feast of Cana.

AFTERNOON SESSION: 4
Semiology of the Proper: Rorate Coeli (of Advent), Pueri, Haebraeorum (of Lent), “The Marian Hymn “Ave Regina Coelorum”.
ST. BASIL’S CHAPEL: Benedictine Compline

FRIDAY:

MORNING SESSION: 1
The ancient structured “cantillation” of Chant. Discovering the foundation of today’s, chant melodies and psalms. Missa primitiva, Agnus Dei, Vespers Psalms, the great “Magnificat”, the melismatic “Alleluias”

MORNING SESSION: 2
Ancient “cantillation” continued: Missa primitive, Agnus Dei, The “O” Antiphons of Advent, Salve Regina, Vespers Psalms.

AFTERNOON SESSION: 3
The melismatic level of Chant, “Rorate Coeli” of Advent, “Puer Natus” of Christmas: Semiology of the hymn, “Veni Creator Spritus”, Vespers “Magnificat”

AFTERNOON SESSION: 4
Chant today as the sung prayer of the Church and the Liturgy sung: Vespers Psalms, Semiology of “Alma Redemptoris Mater” Vespers “Magnificat”
Vespers: 13th Century Menil Byzantine Fresco Chapel.

SATURDAY:

MORNING SESSION: 1
Melisma of “Alleluias”: Alleluias 1 & 2: Marian Hymns: Advent “Alma Redemptoris Mater”, Paschal “Regina Coeli” , “Conditor Alme Siderum”, “Veni Creator Spritus”.

MORNING SESSION: 2
New English Chant of the Roman Missal: Alternate Chant of St. Meinrad., “Ubi Caritas” of Holy Thursday, Lenten Marian Hymn: “Ave Regina Coelorum”.

AFTERNOON SESSION: 3
Preparation of Chants, Mass parts for the Solemn Vigil. Missa Primitiva, “Conditor Alme Siderum”, “Ave, Regina Coelorum”, Gospel “Alleluia”.

AFTERNOON SESSION: 4
Chants of the new English Roman Missal. Alternate chants of St. Meinrad.

4:15: Break for preparation of Liturgy:
Schola Cantorum Chapel rehearsal
4:45 pm: Assemble for Missa Solemnis