To find out about the summer colloquium, start by looking over the description at http://musicasacra.com/colloquium

And to see scenes from the event a few years back when it was held in Chicago, watch the very nice TV documentary Sacred, Beautiful, and Universal.

Steve,

Her thinking is that we need to provide a little something for everyone. It reminds me of the Protestants "blended" that has gone out of style a while ago. It's neither fish nor foul.

The problem with soy-based turducken is that it is in your expression "a little something for everyone". What is needed is the solid teaching of the Church on the subject of sacred music.


Every time I read about how the older form of the Mass is only for old people, I think of the college students who drive 30 minutes to come to Mass, and the young families, and others with teens who drive, sometimes, as long as 40 minutes to attend Mass. Some of them, perhaps, are fleeing the "little something for everyone" attitudes in their local parishes, but some - even most - of them have a genuine love for praying the way the Church has always prayed.

Thanks for the referrals. I'll contact them.

I would love to do a musicians retreat and have one of those referrals as the keynote speaker. I'm walking a fine line here, in that while I know what the Church documents say about sacred music and liturgy etc...I would be labeled as one of those E.Fer's or whatever a sensible Catholic musician is called. Then my credibility goes out the window.

IF there is someone that can speak to Church teachings without getting too far off center, that would be best. Example: When the docs say that Latin and Gregorian chant are preferred in the Roman Rite...then says "all things being equal"...what the heck does that really mean? (My explanation has been that music that organically comes out of Gregorian chant would be equal. i.e Plainsong, Anglican chant, contemporary (NOT 70's, 80's 90's junk) chant, from good modern composers...like what we find on ccwatershed, Illuminaire, etc...). What about explaining the loopholes and what we should be doing to fill those loopholes?

I think it would be helpful if some facts and figures were presented that demonstrate that young people (Millenials?) are flocking to the EF and for what reasons.

Another issue that should be addressed is the sing-ability of congregational music. Some of the nonsense that have eighth rests, 2 - 4 measures of silence before the next verse, lots of syncopation etc...is not singable by 500-1000 amateur's.

So....is there anyone out there who is middle of the road enough? And now, for the $64,000. Question....What should we expect to pay for such expertise?

Road kill

Steve,

As it happens, I can't claim any originality here. I credit as my source (but there may be others) as the late Senator Jesse Helms. Like or dislike the man, he made you laugh.

I've never heard this expressed by anybody younger than 50.

^^This, and I think overall in the Church, situations like Padster's are going to get worse before they get better. The older generation is still in charge and opting for a kind of scorched-earth policy toward liturgy as they shuffle off the stage. Keep sowing good seed and know it will produce even if it is unlikely you will see the harvest anytime soon if ever.

Everybody has a situation.

It's greatly freeing to not worry about whether there will be a bountiful harvest while you're there. Or even during your lifetime.

God has a longer view.

Adam is right: we all have a situation.

I'm included. I had a SITUATION GRANDE yesterday, when I bought a new car and somehow forgot to tell my wife! Now that's situation!!

Thank You Mary Ann. Very good information.

I read a book a few years ago, written by a reporter from St. Louis. It was about 3 different generations (Gen Xr's, Baby Boomers, and Millenials) and what type of liturgical music they preferred. As it turned out, the GenXr's and the Millenials preferred traditional liturgical music while the Boomers preferred "contemporary". I wish I could remember the book's name. Sorry.

I heard from a friend that the 2nd edition of "Why Catholics Can't Sing" is really very good and has some new insights. Has anyone read it? If so, what do you think?

I have more of a Sitz im Leben.

The music and liturgy director at our cathedral retired very recently. Several musicians have told me she couldn't read music. Kind of like teaching English without being able to read, isn't it? Someone, somewhere probably understands this, but it isn't me. It's bad out there in far too many places.

Musicteacher 56 writes:

"I'm not sure if a pastor who is too hands off is worse than one who is too hands on. I would venture to say the former ..."

Well, leaving aside actual examples of priestly criminality (which I have mercifully been spared), I would much rather work for a sacerdotal tyrant than for a sacerdotal wimp. Give me five Captain Queegs any day of the week, in preference to one Milquetoast.

I too loathe the Mass of Glory. It was our Parrish's default setting for years before I arrived.

I loathed the Mass of Glory so much that I played the Sanctus on a keyboard using the best B-3/Leslie I could find and pepped it up...just for her. One of our priests who is musical ordered me to never play that mass setting again.

+1 :-)

Misa Luna?

Moon Mass?

Yipes, on the name alone.

Moon day mass

Lol! The true meaning surfaces.

Can I be enlightened? I've never heard of this piece. Does someone have a copy?

Curious about the Mass of Christ the Savior, or, as Steve called it, the "My Little Pony Mass" only because my six year old daughter loves My Little Pony LOL!

Sorry to hear about all of this. The DoM I work with is not formally trained, and might fall into many of the complaints aired here about "non-musician" music directors. But she has spent enough years learning, practicing, participating as a choir member before accepting the position of director, and never tries to be something she is not. As far as untrained musicians go, she's one of the best I've ever worked with and has a great program going. She also doesn't have hangups about not having a piece of paper on the wall and is open to my suggestions and anyone else's. Attitude and intentions go a long way. Best wishes to you in your new musical adventure.

The other day, driving to work, I found myself fitting Latin text to the Gloria of the Schutte. I must be sick...