Baptism of our Lord
Hey, all I've been scouring the Liber Usualis for texts appropriate for the Baptism of our Lord an am coming up frustratingly short. Am I looking in the wrong place? (I'm going back and forth through...
View ArticleHow to form and train a new choir?
For those of you who have done this, all the advice i can get would be helpful. What are the first steps to take in starting a new, more traditional choir, and training them to sing the chant...
View ArticleThe Application of Tra le Sollecitudini on OF and EF
Dear all, While keeping this email anonymous, this is a reply by a priest regarding my proposal for the invitation of a guest amateur choir, which I sing in (which comprises Catholics and non Catholics...
View ArticleFuneral Music
I've decided not to ask families what songs they want at funerals. I've decided to choose the music, based on what the Church desires for funerals, as best as I can discern. If a family really wants a...
View ArticleSomething that'd be REALLY helpful, I think
I'm a campus minister at a liberal arts college, and we're hoping to develop a great music program starting with chant and moving toward polyphony. The problem is, when I look at the extraordinary...
View ArticleWhat helps/hurts most?
I didn't see any category for such a topic, so I posted here. Perhaps a "Music program management" or "general music discussion" category would be in order.My question is what "makes or breaks" a good...
View ArticleHow to plan the reform of your parish's music
I'm looking for wisdom from other music directors who have had success in implementing reform of music in their parishes, at least to the point of having the ordinary in latin and appropriate hymns,...
View ArticleMaking the Switch
In this thread (http://musicasacra.com/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=116), David asks "I realize that some of you may be in quite advanced parishes that don't even use hymnody, or are in the process...
View ArticleVeni Creator Spiritus and other indulgenced hymns
I didn't know until very recently that reciting/singing Veni Creator Spiritus grants the individual a plenary indulgence on January 1st as well as Pentecost (partial indulgences for all other days)....
View ArticleHow to Fight Against the "Participation Argument"
There is one persistent point that is constantly put forth by a particular parishioner who does nothing but complain to me about our weekly selections: "the congregation isn't singing." We are an...
View ArticleBenedicamus Domino Dismissal
When to use "Benedicamus Domino" as a dismissal? While many seem to think that "Benedicamus Domino" substitutes for "Ite, Missa Est" during Lent, my Cathedral Daily Missal (c. 1963) states that "B.D."...
View ArticleChurch acoustics
What is the best acoustic environment for sacred music, and how can it be achieved?
View ArticleSize of Music programs and choirs
Sorry.... For those who are in parish music programs, what is your parish's average weekend attendance, and how many members in your main adult choir? How many cantors? I am curious because while I am...
View ArticlePost Your Weekly Parish Music Planning (Ordinary Form)
I think it would be helpful to have a thread where we who plan liturgies and/or music can "compare notes" and seek inspiration and ideas. As my work concerns a parish which utilizes Mass exclusively in...
View ArticleSad story of a good music program wrecked
I know there are thousands of such stories but this one just caught my eye. Hearts broken all around.
View Article4-Hymn Sandwich -- in the EF!
There are folks working in my area of the country to get a regular EF Mass started. So the first one was on the schedule. The organizer wrote to ask if our schola would sing for it. Sure, I said! Then...
View Articlebooklets for congregation with Mass readings only?
Does anyone know of a reasonably priced option (hardcover traditional missals are probably not in the budget) that includes readings for Sunday Mass and antiphons for daily Masses but no hymns? In...
View ArticleMusic for Ordination
Can anyone suggest texts that would be especially appropriate for the music for an ordination to the diaconate, happening during Ordinary time? Suggestions for specific choral pieces welcome as well,...
View ArticleThe EASIEST and MOST EFFECTIVE change you can make!
I think this lives up to the headline. I've made some progress in my parish through much infighting: Jubilate Deo ordinary, congregational introits, no more Glory & Praise music, psalms at...
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