Catholic musicians gathered to blog about liturgy and life
The alternatim verses were composed by Ciro Grassi, the chant verses are tone VIII. I have also sung this piece many times with my local men’s schola, and it’s a joy to sing. Love your mother!
Don’t forget: if you have suggestions for future Monday Magnificat compositions, feel free to send them to me by clicking here.
This is probably not a surprise to anyone, but in my area, I am involved in either directing or singing in several scholas and choirs, serving both forms (OF and EF) graciously. One of them I sing with every month or two in Milwaukee, WI, The St. Cecilia Schola, was invited to sing at an EF High Mass yesterday evening at the diocese’s basilica (if I had a sense of humor like Adam Wood, I’d be making umbraculum jokes right now…). I actually ended up directing the men for some of the pieces, as the normal assistant director fell ill, but that’s not what I’m here to talk about. I’m here to talk about how surprisingly young the schola is! After a rough calculation this morning, I think the average age is somewhere between 25 and 30. And this is only one of the three scholas I know of first hand that have either formed or renewed within the past year.
As I discussed in a previous post, I truly believe that the upcoming revolution of sacred music will be largely lead by younger people, as they begin to learn more about the Church’s vision for music and liturgy.
I think I might be on to something here…stay tuned in the future, I hope to write more about this idea in the future.
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| The St. Cecilia schola cantorum |
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For those who are interested, here is what we sang:
Propers: Confessio (Men)
Ordinary: Mass XVIII (All, M/W alternating)
Processional: Adoramus Te – Palestrina (SATB)
Offertory motet: De Profundis – Salieri (ST)
Communion: Panis Angelicus – Allen (Women)
During Last Gospel: Ave Regina Caelorum (All)
Recessional: Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days (All)
This Monday’s Magnificat comes from St. Peter’s Basilica. It was sung for adoration during the time of sede vacante following Benedict XVI’s abdication. It was chanted to psalm tone II d. Don’t forget: if you have suggestions for future Monday Magnificat compositions, feel free to send them to me by clicking here.
Our first Magnificat comes from Notre Dame de Paris, called the ton royal. Enjoy! Love your mother!
In an effort to more fully expand your appreciation and knowledge of the Church’s “treasure of inestimable value,” I am announcing a new weekly series: Magnificat Monday! Stay tuned this upcoming Monday, and every Monday for the foreseeable future.
If you have suggestions for future Magnificat Mondays, contact me here and send me a link to a video. Stay tuned!
And after this… who knows… maybe Te Deum Tuesday? We shall see!
The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy. Sacrosanctum Concilium § 112.
Please keep the people in Kiev, Ukraine, particularly the Christians there. From what I could find, almost 100 have died so far. As I see more and more pictures of the eastern-rite priests trying to protect the people and lead them in prayer, I am constantly amazed by their bravery and devotion. Pray in a special way for these priests. These image are just so striking to me.
I hate the Latin Mass. More specifically, I love the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, but it grates on my nerves to hear it referred to as “The Latin Mass.” Of course, it’s factually correct; the EF actually is in Latin. but every time I hear it, it feels incredibly defeatist, which starkly contrasts it with that other Mass, where we obviously use English (I mean, why wouldn’t we?). </sarcasm>
To use this term raises the flag of defeat, signaling that we are not going to be following what the Second Vatican Council said about the matter. It signals that we’re content with keeping the Latin for those loony trads at the EF Mass which just happens to have the most inconvenient time in the schedule. It signals that we’re happy with the status quo, regardless of how we got here. It signals that they don’t care about what the church says about the issue. It signals that we care more about our own shallow understanding than faithful obedience.
It signals defeat, and I’m frustrated by it. It’s time to push on, not back down. Despite the common practice in the past 50 years, the Roman Rite is the Latin Mass.
§ 36.1: Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.
§ 54. In Masses which are celebrated with the people, a suitable place may be allotted to their mother tongue. […] Nevertheless steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them.
