Category Archives: News

Susan Treacy on the Reform of Music

Tuesday, 11 September 2007 07:42
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One reason I postponed entering the Church was because of my ambivalence towards the music and liturgy found in typical Catholic parishes. I actually did not know what the true teachings of the Church on sacred music were, according to the documents of Vatican II, until 1991. Also, I did not know that there were any Catholic parishes where good music was still done. All that changed when I read the documents, and when in 1991 I started attending the Sacred Music Colloquium, held by the Church Music Association of America (CMAA).

More of this excellent interview with Professor Treacy here.

Training seminar an end in itself…

Thursday, 06 September 2007 05:53
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or an interim step.

Sessions at the Celebrant Seminar are designed to train priests in singing the Ordinary Form in English and Latin, as well as the Extraordinary form. Many pastors are finding the changes that last take places slowly. The ordinary form remains, for the most part, the Mass that will be said (and sung!) in parishes across the country and the world on a regular basis. Singing the Mass first in English, and then in Latin, will slowly but surely lead the hearts and minds of even the most resistant parishioners in the directions of beauty and mystery. Pastors must lead the way.

There are only three rooms remaining at the retreat center, so sign up through us soon. Remember, too, that we’ve made arrangements for a discounted price at one of Chicago’s nicer hotels only blocks away from St. John Cantius. Call the Crowne Plaza directly to make your room reservation, and mention the “Priest Training Seminar.”

The Creator of All Harmony

Wednesday, 05 September 2007 10:22
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From the VIS

VATICAN CITY, SEP 5, 2007 (VIS) – Yesterday evening, Benedict XVI attended a concert held in the internal courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo. The event was organized in his honor by the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra for celebrations marking the 1000th anniversary of the archdiocese of Bamberg, Germany.

In remarks made at the end of the concert, the Pope indicated that music “has the power to lead us back … to the Creator of all harmony, creating a resonance within us which is like being in tune with the beauty and truth of God, with the reality which no human knowledge or philosophy can ever express.”

After thanking the conductor and the members of orchestra, as well as the organizers and promoters of the event, the Holy Father described the concert as “a gift which I interpret as being the sign of a special bond of affection between the archdiocese of Bamberg and Peter’s Successor.”

“May your jubilee pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles and to Peter’s current Successor,” the Holy Father concluded, “strengthen your faith and joy in God, that you may become His witnesses in daily life.”

Chant for a Tridentine Mass

Tuesday, 04 September 2007 14:30
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From the new Adoremus Bulletin:

A priest in our diocese will be saying the “Tridentine Mass” in a private Mass for home-schooling families in our area starting next month. I have volunteered to lead the singing of the parts of the Mass in Gregorian Chant. I do own a choir edition of the Adoremus Hymnal and am familiar with some of the chant included in the book. Would the chant in the hymnal be used for the Tridentine Mass? At what times of the year? Are there any additional sources of chant that you would recommend to help get us started? Thank you. MaryBecker via e-mail

William Mahrt response:

Helen Hull Hitchcock forwarded your inquiry to me, and I can add a little bit to the information. Concerning the Ordinary of the Mass, the chants are essentially the same in both usages, so the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei would be the same, except that in the Tridentine use, the Kyrie is always nine-fold, while in the new user it is often six-fold; likewise, in the Tridentine usage the Pater noster is sung by the priest alone until the last line, which is sung as a response by the choir and/or congregation.

There remains the Propers of the Mass, however: the introit, gradual, alleluia or tract, offertory, and communion. These are often omitted in the new use or replaced with hymns, but that is not permitted in the Tridentine use; they must be sung there. Most correctly, they should be sung in their full Gregorian forms from the Graduate Romanum, though it was customary before the Council to sing their texts to simple psalm-tone melodies, which fulfills the requirement. Likewise, while the repertory of pieces for the Propers of the Mass is essentially the same in both uses, the specific assignment of pieces varies according to the day, since the calendar was subject to a thorough-going revision.

If you are just getting started, I would suggest that you go for the psalm-tone Propers. Ultimately the full Gregorian pieces should be used, but that is a major project requiring some considerable musical attention. The old edition of Rev. Carlo Rossini has been reprinted by the Neumann Press. I believe one should move on to singing the Gregorian pieces, but this is an-acceptable first step. With my best wishes for your project.

William Mahrt
President of the Church
Music Association of America
Editor of Sacred Music

The problem of boredom at Mass

Sunday, 02 September 2007 15:11
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The New Liturgical Movement addresses the topic.

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