Nativity of St John the Baptist

For June 24, 2007 which is the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, a first class feast superseding the 2nd class 4th Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

1. Procession: We Praise Thee For The Baptist (a.k.a. From All Thy Saints In Warfare) (AH#592)
   
2. Asperges me
   
3. Introit: De ventre matris meae
   
4. Kyrie VIII
   
5. Gloria VIII
   
6. Gradual: Priusquam te formarem
   
7. Alleluia: Tu, puer, propheta Altissimi
   
8. Credo IV
   
9. Offertory: Iustus ut palma florebit
   
10. Offertory hymn: Ut Queant Laxis
    
11. Sanctus VIII
    
12. Agnus Dei VIII
    
13. Communion hymn: Cor Dulce, Cor Amabile
    
14. Communion: Tu, puer, propheta Altissimi
    
15. Recession: Salve Regina (solemn tone)
    

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

2nd Sunday after Pentecost

For June 10, 2007 which is the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, we are going to sing:

1. Procession: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
   
2. Asperges me
   
3. Introit: Factus est Dominus
   
4. Kyrie IV
   
5. Gloria IV
6. Gradual: Ad Dominum
   
7. Alleluia: Domine, Deus meus
   
8. Credo III
9. Offertory: Domine, convertere
   
10. Offertory hymn: Adoramus te Christe (G.P. Palestrina)
11. Sanctus IV
12. Agnus Dei IV
13. Communion hymn: Anima Christi
    
14. Communion: Cantabo Domino
    
15. Recession: Hail, True Victim, Life And Light
    

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Pentecost Sunday

Due to work commitment elsewhere, yours truly will not be able to sing at the chapel for Pentecost Sunday. However, besides the propers I have suggested the following hymns to be sung:

1. Procession: Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest
   
2. Kyrie II
3. Gloria II
   
4. Credo III
5. Sanctus II
6. Agnus Dei II
   
7. Communion hymn: Panis Angelicus
   
8. Recession: O God Almighty Father

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Steubenville

Liturgical and music anarchy are still very much alive and well, even amidst all the talk about "reform of the reform", new ICEL translation, Sacramentum Caritatis, Redemptionis Sacramentum, Motu Proprio, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Behold the Holy Week liturgy at neo-con charismatic heaven Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS), where popular Novus Ordo celebrity Scott Hahn currently lectures at. And oh dear, the Wikipedia entry for Scott Hahn even calls FUS "a major center of conservative Catholic thought in the United States"! I shudder to think what they would consider as liberal centers of Catholic thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naH8r3b7zAg

Compare this to another scenario also in the United States. No prizes for guessing, but which would you consider as a better candidate to be "a major center of conservative Catholic thought in the United States"? :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQogMEXeKig

P.S. Sorry for not embedding the video here as embedding has been disabled by the video owner.

The all-powerful director of music

Jeffrey Tucker over at NLM posted a typical scenario of the liturgical tyranny imposed by lay directors of music at most Novus Ordo parishes today. Here's a snapshot of a conversation between a man planning for his wedding music and the parish music director.

The naive young man clarified with some firmness: "We really do want a traditional Catholic wedding, so we really want traditional Catholic music." He didn't have anything specific in mind. Indeed, what the young man called "traditional Catholic" is just a code for something meaningful and important, something holy and transcendent, something momentous and prayerful, something right and true and integral to our heritage -- something other than what this woman is capable of providing. The voice of the director of music firmed up to the point of scolding: "Well, we must keep in mind that the people of God have very diverse tastes, so we must use music that appeals to everyone, not just those who agree with you."

Oh yeah! Diversity! Appeals to everyone except to Him and the ones who truly matters. The typical buzzwords. I'd say this is a call to arms to get rid of such 1970s backwardness for the common good. OK, the Clown Mess picture below is not the music director's ideas...but we all know how circus-like the Church has been turned into, and music played a major role.

Renaissance polyphony

Enjoy some beautiful Renaissance pieces especially those sung by the Tallis Scholars.

Nunc Dimittis by G.P. Palestrina sung by the Tallis Scholars.

Vigilate by William Byrd sung by the Tallis Scholars.

If Ye Love Me by Thomas Tallis sung by the New Chamber Orchestra Choir.

Fifth Sunday after Easter

For May 13, 2007 which is the Fifth Sunday after Easter, we are going to sing:

1. Procession: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
   
2. Vidi aquam
3. Introit: Vocem iucunditatis
   
4. Kyrie I
5. Gloria I
   
6. Alleluia: Surrexit Christus et illuxit
   
7. Alleluia: Exivi a Patre
   
8. Credo III
9. Offertory: Benedicite, gentes
10. Offertory hymn: Ave Maria (J. Arcadelt)
    
11. Sanctus I
12. Agnus Dei I
    
13. Communion hymn: Ave Verum Corpus
    
14. Communion: Cantate Domino
    
15. Recession: At The Lamb's High Feast (AH#411)

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Marian motets

With May coming soon, most choirs would be selecting mainly Marian motets for their practice. Sacred Heart Choir wouldn't be any different, as the next Sunday Mass will be on May 13, which is also dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. Several versions of Ave Maria comes to mind once I looked at CPDL. However we are constrained to short pieces (scores not more than 2 pages) and no more than 4 voices, given the size of the congregation and the small number of singers that we have. If you have other suitable suggestions, do drop me a note or leave a comment.

In the meantime, here are several clips of Chanticleer (one of my favourite groups), singing Franz Biebl's Ave Maria as well as another unknown track. I posted a similar clip by another group here, and I have to admit, Biebl's Ave Maria never fails to give me goosebumps whenever I hear it sung. Beautiful!

Second Sunday after Easter

For April 22, 2007 which is the Second Sunday after Easter, we are going to sing:

1. Procession: Rejoice, O Mary, Heavenly Queen
   
2. Vidi aquam
3. Introit: Misericordia Domini
   
4. Kyrie I
5. Gloria I
   
6. Alleluia: Cognoverunt discipuli
   
7. Alleluia: Ego sum pastor bonus
   
8. Credo III
   
9. Offertory: Deus, Deus meus
   
10. Offertory hymn: O Sanctissima
    
11. Sanctus I
12. Agnus Dei I
    
13. Communion hymn: Adoro te devote
    
14. Communion: Ego sum pastor bonus
    
15. Recession: New Praises Be Given
    

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Canticle after 4th Reading of Paschal Vigil

Another clip of the choir, this time singing the canticle "Attende caelum" which is after the 4th reading on Paschal Vigil 2007.

Ladies, You're Wanted!

OK, just kidding about the dancing part, but no harm for the good-looking part right? :) We need female voices for the soprano and/or alto parts in singing sacred polyphony. Those of you who love singing (judging by the annual turnout for Idol auditions, who doesn't love singing?), now's a great opportunity to do your part in creating beautiful music for the Lord! Please see the membership post for more details. As another incentive, have a look at the picture below:

Victimae Paschali Laudes

As we are still in Paschaltide, here's another great Youtube clip featuring a slightly different version of Victimae Paschali Laudes, the sequence sung during the entire Paschal octave. The melody still follows the Gregorian chant version, but with some polyphony added in.

Regina Caeli, Jubila

This was taken during the Paschal Vigil Liturgy on 7th April 2007.

Salve Festa Dies excerpt from St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary

Here's a short clip of the Paschal favourite "Salve Festa Dies" sung by the seminarians of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Winona. Sacred Heart Choir wishes every reader and wellwisher a blessed and joyous Pascha!

Resurrection of Our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ (the Solemnity of Solemnities)

For April 8, 2007 which is the Resurrection of OLJC, we are going to sing:

1. Procession: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (SBH#044)
   
2. Vidi aquam
3. Introit: Resurrexi
4. Kyrie I
5. Gloria I
   
6. Gradual: Haec dies
7. Alleluia: Pascha nostrum
8. Sequence: Victimae paschali laudes
9. Credo IV
   
10. Offertory: Terra tremuit
11. Offertory hymn: Regina Caeli, Jubila
    
12. Sanctus I
13. Agnus Dei I
    
14. Communion hymn: O Filii Et Filiae
    
15. Communion: Pascha nostrum
16. Recession: The Strife Is O'er
    

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Paschal Vigil

For April 7, 2007 which is the Paschal Vigil, we are going to sing:

1. Canticle: Cantemus Domino
2. Canticle: Vinea facta est
3. Canticle: Attende caelum
4. Litany of the Saints (until "Omnes Sancti et Sanctae Dei, intercedite pro nobis")
5. Canticle: Sicut cervus
   
6. Litany of the Saints (cont. from "Propitius esto, parce nobis Domine")
7. Kyrie I
8. Gloria I (accompanied by the ringing of bells)
   
9. Alleluia: Confitemini Domino
10. Tract: Laudate Dominum
11. Sanctus I
    
12. Offertory hymn: Regina Caeli, Jubila
    
13. Communion hymn: O Filii Et Filiae
    
14. Communion: Alleluia (repeat after the end of Laudate Dominum)
    
15. Antiphon: Et valde mane
16. Canticle: Benedictus Dominus (repeat Antiphon Et valde mane at the end)
    
17. Recession: The Strife is O'er
    

Click on the links to hear samples where available. NOTE: The Credo and Agnus Dei are not sung/said in the Paschal Vigil Mass.

Gregorian Chant for Church and School, by Sister Goodchild

Again, the CMAA has outdone itself by providing a great textbook on chant for all ages. Get it here as a free downloadable PDF or buy it for your chapel/parish choir for only US$13 per copy (softcover). With news of the Motu Proprio by the Holy Father liberating the Traditional Mass soon, make sure your parish is ready should your parish priest wants to celebrate that Mass!

Good Friday

For April 6, 2007 which is Good Friday, we are going to sing the following:

1. Tract: Domine audivi
2. Tract: Eripe me, Domine (psalm-tone)
   
3. Responses to Ecce lignum Crucis in ascending tone: Venite adoremus (1) (2) (3)
   
4. Improperia: Popule meus
5. Antiphon: Crucem tuam
6. Hymn: Crux fidelis
7. Procession of the Blessed Sacrament from altar of repose: Adoramus te Christe (G.P. Palestrina)
8. Communion I: Per lignum
9. Communion II: Salvator mundi, salva nos
   

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Maundy Thursday

For April 5, 2007 which is Maundy Thursday, we are going to sing:

1. Procession: Blessed Lamb
   
2. Introit: Nos autem gloriari
3. Kyrie II
4. Gloria II
   
5. Gradual: Christus factus est
   
6. Antiphon: Mandatum novum (antiphons 6-13 are sung only if feet washing rite takes place)
7. Antiphon: Postquam surrexit Dominus
8. Antiphon: Dominus Iesus
9. Antiphon: Domine, tu mihi lavas pedes
10. Antiphon: Si ego Dominus
11. Antiphon: In hoc cognoscent omnes
12. Antiphon: Maneant in vobis
13. Antiphon: Ubi caritas
14. Offertory: Dextera Domini
15. Offertory hymn: O Esca Viatorum (SGH228b)
    
16. Sanctus II
17. Agnus Dei II (end with "miserere nobis" instead of "dona nobis pacem")
    
18. Communion hymn: Panis Angelicus
    
19. Communion: Dominus Iesus
    

During translation of the Most Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose:

1. Hymn: Pange lingua gloriosi

Click on the links to hear samples where available.

Bonus: Visit this link courtesy of the FSSP North American District to download MP3s of the entire Vesperal Mass of Maundy Thursday.

Cantus singing Ave Maria

This is very nice. Too bad these kind of music are only appreciated in a secular setting.