You forgot to mention that cdbaby offers previews of every track! I can't wait to hear the whole thing, but I found it very revealing to hear how rigidly I was chanting myself (psalm verse for "Qui manducat," which I had learned before) compared to the nuance that I now expect from my schola just a year later (more like what is heard in "Gustate," which was new to me at the time -- shameful, I know). This gives me great hope for where my group could be another year from now, with the aid of the teaching resources available from CMAA and sample recordings, like the excellent ones by Turco and this one from Stepping Stone Chant Project. I'm giving one to each of my choir members as an early Christmas gift.

I was sufficiently charmed by the snippets (and my prior knowledge of the excellent voice of M. Olbash) to purchase a copy forthwith and posthaste.

I'm also going to be giving it air time on my weekly radio program that features both early and modern (with little in the middle) music. I love to play chant from American sources, even better if they're non-monastic. I have nothing against Europeans and/or religious choirs, but it's nice to demonstrate that one need not be either of the foregoing to sing chant beautifully.

Way to go, Stepping Stones!

This is so great. I don't know why I didn't take note of this the first time. ordering right away!

Mia, that sounds like a great idea. I'm sure the CD will be very helpful and inspirational. However, make note that the Mass presented is the Ordinary Form (OF). Of course many parts will carry over between the two. I just got my copy of the CD in the mail yesterday and I had a chance to listen to it last night. I think you will enjoy it!

I think Michael's trying to demonstrate that pastors and musicians can incorporate chant in Ordinary Form Masses, including those celebrated in the vernacular. Most Masses will continue to be in the Ordinary Form, and the Church certainly wants this music to be sung in them.

But I still don't understand why we have OF and EF, if we have them in Latin as the main language.

There are many things I don't understand why the Chruch had to do certain things. In someways I think I can see why the Church had to offer us EF and OF. It's like we have elementary, middle and high school. I could not have appreciated and understand EF mass until last year. I had to learn and deepen my faith to understand the true meaning of the Holy Mass. Although I discovered the EF is the most sacred, not everyone can take it. So we have OF with vernacular, and the next step, middle school (OF in Latin, bridge to EF). The curriulum in elementary level has been so poor these days, and everything has to be fun- oriented. (both in schools and churches) But it wasn't the Church's intention for OF and use of vernacular to be so out of hand in many local parishes. Maybe my analogy is oversimplyfied, this helps me to understand the Church better on this matter. And I'm very glad the EF is kept as it is. And this CD of OF is a great help to many.

Thanks

Mia

A book by Scott Hahn, The Lamb's Supper: the Mass as Heaven on Earth is an excellent exposition, I think, and very accessible. I've given it as presents to friends, and they invariably come away with a new attitude. Gift idea.

Here's a video slideshow of Sanctus II from the CD, with images of the chapel where we recorded it.

Great video! I'm ordering off of Itunes!

(sincere applause for Robert)

That's a great line! :-)

By the way, incantu was the first to suggest that the CD title should refer to "moosica sacra" or "Angus Dei".

In addition to bells, we also had to contend with the lowing of the farm's newly weaned calves. Did any of those make it into the final product? There must have been some tracks in which they couldn't be eradicated altogether... or?