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Posted on by Mr. C

Colloquium Predux

Reminding upon all CMAA events of the past whilst sitting in a very inexpensive but accommodating hotel near the Indy airport…

The first and imperial memory I have is of Duquesne II, Thursday. I had bronchitis. JT gave me a whole new Z pack Tues/Wed., but I hadn’t recovered a chant voice. Wendy was at her third Colloquium with me, soaking up the grace, and her schola was chanting for an EF. I made the decision to not chant with JMO (like he needed me) and just be PIP. Best decision of my life.

In Chicago, both W and I benefited by the chubby FSSP celebrant’s homiletic expiation of the VO (the new nomenclature replacing EF and Usus Antiquior or EF) and it was artfully brilliant. But as I chronicled here (I think) I became a child of God that Thursday in Pittsburgh.  

I suppose in a word I would say I “got” Sacrosanctum Consilium in its fullness right there in Pittsburgh, PA., of all places where the dubious efforts of Msgr. Rossini were legend, save for those who have his books and can read the reality.

So, from  the discount ho tel the night before registration, praying, hoping,  begging that this week for which I’ve done no preparation, don’t have a clue what didactic benefit(s) might fall my direction this week , and  which maybe my “last colloquium” I will doubtless behold the glory of God which then I hope bring home to the homespun folks of the San Joaquin Valley of California, a glorious The foretaste….
Posted on by Kathleen Pluth

The world vernacular is, let’s say it all together, English

No cafe in Italy is a Chant Cafe. Every. Single. Italian restaurant pipes in American style pop of one kind or another. Gratefully, this small cafe/souvenir shop in Orvieto plays the mellow British songs of longing styled by Paul Young. Just the ticket for enjoying a mixed olive-oriented appetizer plate in this nice small place between an inadequately post-conciliarly refurbished parish church by my hotel, and the hopefully more-carefully-conserved Duomo, up the street here in old Orvieto.
Yet another reminder that, for better or worse, English vernacular sets the world’s musical standard. So at the Duomo this week and later at St. Peter’s, I’ll be praying that the participants in the 2014 Colloquium gain the skills and energy to help remake the world of sacred music, in a way that treats the people of God like potential saints, engaged not in the fads of the moment, but participating in the eternal Liturgy–as taught by the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council.
Posted on by Mary Jane Ballou

The Golden Record in Interstellar Space – What’s Missing?

Sometimes we forget to check out what the rest of the world thinks of sacred music.  Heck, doesn’t everyone think about it all the time as we do?  Hmmm, maybe not.

Some who read this blog are probably not old enough to remember the launch of the Voyager spacecraft in 1977.  Both Voyager 1 and 2 are now in interstellar space.  The Golden Record they carry contains a collection of sounds of earth in case the spacecrafts ever encounters another civilization.

You can read about the Record and see its contents on the JPL site devoted to the mission.  It’s fascinating and wonderfully optimistic.  And who doesn’t remember Carl Sagan? When you look at the music selections, what’s missing?

Posted on by Ben

Magnificat Monday – We’re still here! – Penderecki

Don’t worry, I’m still here, I just took the week off last week (expect another post about that soon). This week’s magnificat, found by Fr. Michael Earthman, is by a Polish composer by the name of Krzysztof Penderecki. A very different style than many of the ones previous posted, but beautiful all the same!

 

Posted on by Mary Jane Ballou

Ave Maris Stella – Setting by Frank La Rocca

This composition is a delight.  With its base in the traditional chant and then taking off into rich harmonies, I couldn’t stop listening.  The Young Women’s Choral Projects of San Francisco has great voices and focus.  If you don’t know Frank La Rocca‘s compositions, look this up.  If you love treble voices as I do, you’ll want to listen and learn about this fantastic choral program for young women.