I am taking up the post of music director at the parish where I have been the organist for nearly a decade. Our music ministry has been steered over the years from Breaking Bread fare towards English chant settings of the propers, Latin Ordinaries and choral motets, and traditional hymnody, and I couldn't be happier to continue that trajectory. As my only experience with Catholic liturgical music has been learning on this job, I realize I need to catch up on church documents and must-read books on this subject. Got a copy of Why Catholics Can't Sing and loaded up Sacrosanctum Concilium for some light bedtime reading. Please let me know what else I should add to the list!
I think you should read something like Mahrt’s The Musical Shape of the Liturgy (the practical bits at least) and then Saulnier’s Gregorian Chant: A Guide.
If not already, join CMAA and receive their journal Sacred Music. Great articles. The Sacred Music Podcast is also excellent. Many informative discussions over its several seasons. You can find it on Apple Podcasts, probably other services too.
I would second Ratzinger's The Spirit of the Liturgy as well as Square Notes. Another good podcast could be The Liturgy Guys. While not music specific, they do a good job covering general liturgy topics, and it is good for us musicians to see our work in the broader context of the mass.
A follow-up question on the GIRM: I'm seeing the 2002 edition on Amazon but sounds like there is a more recent (2016) edition? If anyone has a link at hand for the updated version, either to purchase or print, that would be greatly appreciated. I assume USCCB's website is up-to-date, so I'll start with that for reference.
Dr. Donelson-Nowicka has regularly facilitated book studies (usually focusing on a Church document) in the past; my guess is that she may do so again in the new academic year. If she does, the information would be available at the link above.
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