Help helping another religious community
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 314
    A poor clare nun has written our monastery asking for help with her organ accompaniment. She can do it fine but wants to understand the theory behind it better. Basically she sight reads without knowing what she is playing or why....

    The problem is (and its a bless-ed problem) she is not able to receive phone calls or use internet... only hand mail and Im cloistered too so... little I can do.

    Are there any ideas on something very simple I can print for her to help with her music education. Or other ideas?
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 2,367
    Do we know what she’s playing? Regardless of style, there are a couple of treatises which could be printed and sent via FedEx. I assume that she has some musical theory knowledge. Otherwise beyond the chords it can be hard to make heads or tails of it (even “why this chord here, but not that one, to be followed by this next chord” is tough to understand in that context even if you can come up with a suitable accompaniment yourself.
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 314
    It seems like she is using the accompaniment for the graduale from the old printer of "Gregorian Institute of America" I think connected with Pius X hymnal- based off of a copy she sent me.

    It seems to me she is playing an electric organ- from what she described, although Im not quite certain. She seems to have learned organ mostly self-taught... does know how to read all the keys, does know how to use pedals.... does not understand how to apply her own harmonization for the different tones, does not understand the difference between tones/ tonality. She said she is the main organist, and the community does not sing well. They use the gradual for the Introit in the mass, and a popular hymn for the rest.

    She said one of the main issues is that she doesnt know how to apply what she reads to real life. She feels stuck in one place, like she has finished teaching herself all she can... doesnt know how to move forward, doesnt know how to help her community.

    I would like to help her, I just dont know the best way to do that.
  • Palestrina
    Posts: 422
    A vexed question. This is about learning modal harmony for plainchant accompaniment… which is like unto a Josquin conference for both the range and dissent in views.
    Thanked by 1monasteryliturgist
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 314
    Trust me Im aware...
  • francis
    Posts: 10,848
    lol... use the NOH as an example... it is the best modal chant accomp out there
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 314
    @francis I have examples that I gave her already, but she just wants to know the theory behind it so that she can apply it without having to necessarily use accompaniment because as she says "I mindlessly play without knowing what Im playing or why." I also understand as a religious that, knowing why you are doing something helps when there is lack of time to find a ready accompaniment.... real life in a monastery is just playing straight from the gregorian notation for lack of time.
  • Felicia
    Posts: 117
    It sounds like she could use some basic music theory. THere are probably resources online, but I'm not familiar with them. Any suggestions?
  • Felicia
    Posts: 117
    Oh, I just remembered that "online" would not be appropriate for her. Sorry about that. Print resources?
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 314
    I can print some things if it isnt too much... thats why... Im not really familiar with anything thats clear and concise.
  • CGM
    Posts: 705
    Can you purchase for her a copy of this book?

    Or download it from Scribd?
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 314
    No, we are not clares but we are evangelically poor. I am also a religious. Our Scribd account wont allow us to download any more.. we passed the "free" limit.
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,199
    Sister Marie,
    Will you send me the address of the house where the organist needs help. I will copy the book and send it to her. You have my email address.

    Kind regards,
    Kevin Faulkner
    Thanked by 4irishtenor tomjaw CHGiffen monasteryliturgist
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 314
    Thank you God Bless.
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,513
    This book is well worth the small investment. https://www.amazon.com/Little-Organ-Book-Summy-Birchard-Peeters/dp/0874876001
  • nun_34nun_34
    Posts: 68
    I wonder whether they have a computer for non-internet use? That would widen options, for instance perhaps @32ContraBombarde could provide you the chant accompaniment videos he's posted on YouTube, something that could be played on a standalone computer, and that you could send via flash drive, along with an installer for (for instance) vlcmediaplayer if needed. Or even just the audios (would they at least have a CD player or cassette tape player?), and give printouts of the chants shown in the video, 'before' and 'after' chords added. Just a thought. Maybe it's not a possibility....
  • monasteryliturgistmonasteryliturgist
    Posts: 314
    @nun_34 Yes, sister, its an option I thought of, I need to write the Sister and find out. I had thought of even putting things on a pin drive and mailing that to her with various things. They are Colettines so my understanding is that it is pretty strict with technology usage but I will be able to find out more specifics after Advent I hope.
  • bhcordovabhcordova
    Posts: 1,167
    Sister Rose should be receiving a hardback copy of the book from Amazon by Monday.
    Thanked by 1monasteryliturgist
  • bhcordovabhcordova
    Posts: 1,167
    Amazon is now saying next Wednesday.
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