Category: Adam Bartlett

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

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

Simple Propers for Holy Week

Download Simple English Propers for Holy Week:

Note that there are no propers in this collection for Good Friday. The reason for this, of course, is that there is no Introit, Offertory or Communion prescribed for this day. The SEP collection is only focusing on these three processional chants, which are typically the bulk of the proper for typical Sundays and Feasts, but as we know, Holy Week is its own beast.

One place where I broke the convention of the book was with the Offertory that is prescribed for Holy Thursday in the Graduale Romanum. This is the well known and very simple Ubi Caritas. The text and the musical setting for this chant are verbatim from the new English translation of the Roman Missal. The musical structure is identical to the Graduale Romanum and the text is newly translated as a part of the Roman Missal effort. I actually find it to be very nice!

So while the Simple English Propers book will be very useful for the week-to-week liturgical “grind”, when it comes to Holy Week additional resources will surely be needed.

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

Simple Propers for the Season of Easter

Download Simple Propers for the Season of Easter:

As you can see, the Simple Propers Project is swiftly moving along! Somehow we skipped Holy Week in our eagerness to get to the Easter Season–you can expect this and the Solemnities at the conclusion of the Easter Season by the end of the week.

A special thanks to all of those who have been reporting errors in the early drafts that have been posted. This is the beauty of the “beta” process. It will help ensure a reliable collection when it is completed.

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

American Popular Musical Values

As I write I’m fading in and out of watching the Super Bowl half time show featuring the Black Eyed Peas, failing auto-tune technology, and a guest appearances from Slash of Guns ‘n Roses and Usher (so far). Of course the Super Bowl is the single most widely viewed television program of the entire year. 100 million Americans are currently enduring this musical show. The half-time show is probably not the musical event of this evening that will be most widely discussed, however.

The national anthem was sung by Christina Aguilera. Instead of the third line of our nation’s anthem, “O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming” Christina sang “What so proudly we watched, at the twilight’s last streaming.”

This, of course was buried under many layers of diva-like styling, scoops, belts, and the like. Not many in room apparently knew that anything wrong had even happened. The singer quickly covered her tracks as best as she could by belting out at the top of her lungs the next line–the tear jerker–”and the rocket’s red glare…”. The crowd erupted in approving shouts of praise, admiration and ecstasy. The camera pans to players on the field who are shedding tears, and to a shot of U.S. troops in uniform, proudly looking on.

The entire stadium seemed to be overcome with such an overwhelming emotional experience that no one was even able to realize that the text that was being sung wasn’t even the national anthem. The text actually made no sense at all!

I wonder what this says about American musical values? It is no wonder why the task that lies ahead of those who serve the music of the liturgy is so great. The essence of liturgical music is a liturgical text, rich in theological and liturgical content, clothed in sacred melody that lifts the mind and soul to prayer.

This is the three-headed beast that we are up against:

Posted on by Adam Bartlett

Phoenix Chorale: “Chant and Beyond”

The grammy award-winning Phoenix Chorale, directed by Charles Bruffy, is giving a concert series this month that features Gregorian chant and chant-inspired modern choral works billed “Chant and Beyond”. The Chorale is an absolutely flawless ensemble and does much to inspire. It is sure to be a most curious and interesting concert series!