32ContraBombarde

Wedding Fees
There will be major variations, but $200 is definitely not too much for what you're doing. If anything, you might be low. My fees in my current role tend to run $200-350 depending on circumstances (low Mass with organ vs. high Mass with choir,…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde June 2018 permalink
Words of Wisdom (on the light side)
A seminary priest used to say: "Don't be nervous. JUST DON'T MESS UP!" CharlesW - your prof was wise. I've never accidentally pulled a chamade at communion, but I did "slip" into the tutti button in the middle of…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde June 2018 permalink
Summer chant programs for teens and younger?
We'll be hosting a children's chant camp this summer in Harrisburg, PA. Who: Children and youth ages 7-18 (we originally specified only unchanged voices, but have had enough interest that there will also be instruction for older boys with…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde June 2018 permalink
EF Mass - Postlude or hymn starting during the Last Gospel?
I improvise on the final hymn during the last Gospel, slowly building to a recognizable introduction after the "et Verbum caro factum est" so that singing may begin as the sacred ministers genuflect to start the procession out. To your po…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde June 2018 permalink
Advice for Search for the Least Expensive yet Best Quality Electronic Digital Self-Contained Organ
There are some companies that offer turn-key Hauptwerk solutions. I guess it depends on your budget. For example: http://www.customorganworks.com/ If you're curious about Hauptwerk solutions, it might be worth perusing the Hauptwerk discussion…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde May 2018 permalink
Advice for Search for the Least Expensive yet Best Quality Electronic Digital Self-Contained Organ
I played an AG 2100 in a church setting for about 5 years, and loved it. The console was sturdy, the electronics were reliable, the midi capability was great, and it had a built-in reverb function to improve a dry acoustic. It had a selectable voice…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde May 2018 permalink
Speakers for Hauptwerk organ
IMO, Behringer Truth 2031a is the best active monitor you'll find for Hauptwerk. You want studio monitors rather than standard "speakers," since they are specifically designed with no eq modification. Many studio monitors only work we…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde May 2018 permalink
ITT: Upload a "wild" organ improvisation
With Pentecost upon us, I figured it was time for some more improvisational fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PvuHn1angs

Comment by 32ContraBombarde May 2018 permalink
Policy for how soon before a wedding music needs to be decided upon?
IMO, a month's notice isn't enough if they're asking you to learn a lot of new material. I'd probably tell them I'll do my best, but suggest that they choose alternatives from a repertoire list for anything I can't get …

Comment by 32ContraBombarde May 2018 permalink
Conducting chant
To reiterate what others have said, and what I think is the most important point: Chironomy is a means, not an end. Its purpose is to lead, guide, and provide direction to the singers. As far as I'm concerned, this means that there is not one s…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde May 2018 permalink
ITT: Upload a "wild" organ improvisation
Some excellent improvisers here! Love it! I'm little more than self-taught hack myself when it comes to organ improv, but love doing it anyhow. Here's the improv I put in the other thread. This was practice and experimentation before East…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde April 2018 permalink
How ‘wild’ can one go with organ improvisation??
@M. Jackson OsbornI've heard similar from others, including some of the prominent French, Latry, for instance. The unfortunate thing about the organ is that, for many, all one has to do is make a lot of noise and the astonishingly unwitting and…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde April 2018 permalink
How ‘wild’ can one go with organ improvisation??
If it helps, here is an example of what I'll do in an improv in a parish church setting. It's nothing like the greats of improv (imo: Daniel Roth, Olivier Latry, Cochereau, Tournemire, et. al.)... this was just practice, playing around wit…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde April 2018 permalink
How ‘wild’ can one go with organ improvisation??
Hmmm. I'm not a fan of that particular improvisation. Seems excessively concerned with theatrical dissonance. One can play a "wild" and exciting improvisation without sounding, for lack of a better word, ridiculous. I am a definite p…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde April 2018 permalink
I found this great channel on accompanying Gregorian chant on the organ.
Part 2: https://youtu.be/nLa7GOKGMaQ And since this Elam fellow makes such great videos, this is worth a watch as well on the modes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyq48eybjZw

Comment by 32ContraBombarde March 2018 permalink
I found this great channel on accompanying Gregorian chant on the organ.
This is an enlightening (and fun!) introduction to tuning/temperament concepts (aimed toward polyphony, but the concepts apply universally): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R75unSXKJXQ

Comment by 32ContraBombarde March 2018 permalink
I found this great channel on accompanying Gregorian chant on the organ.
Glad you find the videos useful. Francis is right - I was trained more or less in the Fontgombault style of simple, complementary accompaniment which doesn't detract from the vocal aspects. Of course, there are plenty of varying opinions about …

Comment by 32ContraBombarde March 2018 permalink
Organ During Lent? Nope!
No organ at all during Lent for this EF parish, except Laetare and weekday feasts of the 1st class. The silence is beautiful. In my experience, one of the keys to preparedness for a cappella seasons like Lent is to minimize instruments/accompanimen…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde February 2018 permalink
Err...Ornamentation
Thanks to this reminder of a song I hadn't thought about in ages, I just spent 15 minutes at the piano improvising on it, from stride to blues to bop (and I played a funk verse on Rhodes for good measure). You've just gotta love that I-III…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde December 2017 permalink
Playing organ without all your fingers
Ouch! I know the feeling... I cut off measurable bit of the tip of my left thumb while cutting drywall for a basement finishing project about 6 years ago. I had to play for Mass the next morning on a very heavy-action tracker. My postlude was the 1s…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde November 2017 permalink
NEED HELP - Our Lady of Fontgombault Chant Accompaniment
Charles has hit on a point which--I suspect--resonates with all of us, regardless of our compositional persuasion; to wit: Gregorian Chant is first, foremost, and properly a vocal music. Discussion of accompaniment theory and composition is secondar…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde October 2017 permalink
Sanctus composition based on VENI VENI
This is the only thing that comes to mind. It seems a bit awkward, but does respect the original rhythm. This also allows you to avoid, if you wish, the introduction of eighth notes in what otherwise reads as plainchant. A quick breath between Lord …

Comment by 32ContraBombarde October 2017 permalink
Working on a new YouTube series: "Chant Talk"
You could start a whole channel. I think we should do "The McLaughlin Chonak Group", talking about relevant topics in Church Music Today. With panelists M. Jackson Osborn, CharlesW, Melofluent, and Francis. I'd pay to see that discuss…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde October 2017 permalink
NEED HELP - Our Lady of Fontgombault Chant Accompaniment
If we are to consider the avoidance of parallel fifths to be a universally well-known standard (again, I'd argue that this is only true of Common Practice, and therefore not really universal), I'd suggest we ought to dig into that a bit an…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde October 2017 permalink
Paid Gregorian Schola
Kathy hit the nail on the head. It seems like you're setting up a false dichotomy wherein one cannot "share material which enhances the prayer of the pastor and congregation" and at the same time "give the very best of their tale…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde October 2017 permalink
Paid Gregorian Schola
This is probably one of those topics that's been beaten to death in the past, but I have to agree with chonak above. To suggest that musicians need not be payed for their services is like suggesting that the parish secretary ought to be a volun…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde October 2017 permalink
NEED HELP - Our Lady of Fontgombault Chant Accompaniment
Thanks. Fair enough. I've studied Potiron's Treatise in some depth. But I disagree that we should feel compelled to conform to common practice rules, precisely on the basis that Gregorian chant, in its modal complexities, is not relatable …

Comment by 32ContraBombarde October 2017 permalink
NEED HELP - Our Lady of Fontgombault Chant Accompaniment
Well, since you already took the bait, now you have me curious, madorganist! You said you've moved back to other accompaniments because you had encountered parallel fifths in the Liber Cantualis Comitante. So here's the question: what…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde October 2017 permalink
Bach organ adaptation?
That would be BWV 721 "Erbarm dich mein, o Herr Gott." Scores at IMSLP Here's a nice version

Comment by 32ContraBombarde October 2017 permalink
Video Series: Chant Accompaniment tips, tricks, & ideas
At long last: Video 6 is up, on accompanying Mode 4 This one's a little lower quality. Really wanted to get these going again, but didn't have time to do the direct audio export from the organ and overdub multiple voices for chant. So au…

Comment by 32ContraBombarde April 2016 permalink

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Username: 32ContraBombarde
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