I can set one to any tone overnight (now that I have nothing to do HAHAHAHAHA ... well not until Saturday's Vigil Mass and now that I have a chant font!) Which tone do you like? What about text? English (which translation), or Latin?

Found this one, which has a good division of strophes that one can apply to the int, flex and med.

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By the way, I set the English to this hymn (I think the tune is Jerusalem)

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I have the organ arrangement if you want it ... let me know.

Ah. I was wondering why you would need a chant version since there are so many. Are you looking for something more homophonic? With contemporary harmonies? When do you need it?

Lololololol!

Noel brought that to my attention. When I type on my iPod it auto corrects mispelled words and wasn't paying attention. I did start working on a simple satb setting a few months ago. If we have enough time you are free to use it. Are you shooting for Jan 1? If not, when? I could finish it today and you could do the world premiere. Let me know asap!

Wow... All of them are nice.

What is your target date for performance?

Michael - I applaud your caution with your singers. Too many directors take their ensembles right up to the brink of their abilities - and are then surprised when they fall over the edge in public. My motto is "we only do what we can do beautifully; there's next year for everything else."

Let us know how it goes.

My choir did an amazing job on their concert prior to midnight Mass. They came light years in just 12 months. They are so excited about singing they don't even want to take a break for Christmas. And the schola was truly a highlight too. But I definitely hold to the same standards as MJ. Quality not quantity. They begged to something not yet perfected and I told them next week... maybe... We will see how it sounds.

It's a tricky proposition when you try to balance the pros with the slows. You gotta keep the pros interested enough to stay and at the same time not overwhelm the slows. I have lost some of the amateurs who THOUGHT they wouldn't be able to keep up when in reality, I never try to push ANYONE out who wants to sing, but sometimes they assume that I am after putting out the halfhearted. It just isn't the case. I even make mp3's with parts on CD that they can listen to in their homes, their cars, their iPods. There actually is no excuse for not knowing the part anymore. As a result, they often eliminate themselves (I think they feel a bit guilty that they expect to sing, but not do the homework as the others are willing to do).

The other side of this is that you can't let the drop outs make you (the director) feel guilty. You have to have a standard that is constantly progressively moving up and carrying them all along with it.

Many times they just want to play at 'singing'. But the choir now has a new standard that you must put some effort into learning the music before you sing it.

I have always held to the government adage where it SHOULD be employed... (in church and not in the schools)

No chorister left behind!

I will wager the music in the semi-megachurch choir was not what we would call 'good' artistic or sacred music, yes? no?

Ah yes... Disney church music... know it well! That music does draw a lot of choralists. I was once offered a job in the late 70s to do just that in an Assembly of God church. They were offering 65k and bennies back then! Can you believe it?

Its the circle of life! VERY IMPORTANT!

Those Viadana tones are quite nice. I'd want to do them alternatim, though, for variety's sake.

Did you try the Munday? The notational house style in the more recent EECM volumes (incl. Gyffard) is not exactly user-friendly. There's a nice anon. 3-part O Salutaris in Gyffard I : ATB as it stands, but take it up a 3rd or 4th and it would be a fine SAB for you tenor-challenged guys.