Polyphony! The adult choir has mastered a number of things and is ready to learn more, and the most advanced youth chanters are learning. Soon, dare I say it, we may be singing polyphony regularly and a cappella.

We're doing much more polyphony this year, and all the propers. I'm so much happier.

Leading the Tenor section. Last year I was still learning the feel of where the Tenor voice sits in the ensemble, but now I feel much more confident. It still takes me several goes to learn new pieces properly though. I might be a tenor, but I am still a mere mortal.

My college choir had most of its best members graduate last year, and we're now mostly a crew of fresh beginners who have never sung polyphony before.

The Cathedral Choir I am also a member of (the same man directs my college and the cathedral - and so I serve only one master) did Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli recently, and oh how glorious this piece is!

We're doing our first 8-parter this Sunday, Mendelssohn's Richte mich, Gott with 12 singers.

Teaching the congregation new settings of the Ordinary (Gregorian).

Beginning to use the Gregorian Alleluias, though for the time being, we're mainly using the verses sung to the solemn psalm-tones, but occasionally we can manage the full form - we recieved positive feedback from the congregation on this! This is in the OF, by the way, and the people were introduced to this via a number of EF High Masses that just ended up 'happening' at the parish - the FSSP just keep turning up! This is why Pope Benedict gave us Summorum Pontificum!

Singing the Communion Antiphon (thank you Richard Rice!). Ignorance is the only reason we haven't done it before--I've gotten (should better say, "started") quite an education since finding this forum.

These are inspiring witnesses: each and every one!
Tales of dedication, conviction, faith, and valour!

We are greatly indebted to Richard Rice. Using his compositions has really eased the way into propers with no resistance from the choir or congregation.

We're now doing a chanted Introit and Communio at all Choral Masses (by the choir, children's choirs, schola cantorum). This is at a parish that had never done any Gregorian chant in its entire history 4 years ago.

We have been doing the Communion proper every week (usually Rice). It's my understanding that this fall, the music director wants to begin adding the Introit (before the opening hymn, but still...) and possibly the Offertory proper as well. Hoping we'll be mixing in more SEP and learning some new Gregorian Ordinary parts. All unimaginable to me, even two years ago.

Good news! Congrats, Bruce!
I don't have my OF resources in front if me, so I'm not sure- is the OF Offertory for tomorrow the same as the EF- Jubilate Deo?

I mention this since I'll need some extra prayers:
the parish will be conducting two sessions of Chant Camp due to increased demand. Last year we had 84 young campers without doing any advertising, 64 of whom were in our smallish loft. After realizing I couldn't even see them all to direct them, I agreed we needed two sessions.
Should be fun times, but crazy!

The other big new thing is our main schola is learning Graduals and Tracts this year. I am loving the mode V melodies.

Personally, I'm doing much better with my sight-reading and I'm better able to pick up new hymns than I used to be. I'm also doing better interlude improvisations and playing chant accompaniments which I wasn't really doing before.

Well since this thread started in September and it was "last year" I guess I can respond even though it has been a year since I responded last. Purple

We are doing the Entrance, Offertory, and Communion Antiphons from the Lumen Christi Missal.
We are learning more Polyphony but it's still a little difficult for the choir, so I have to stick with easy stuff.

This Lent we will sing more a Capella.

It is so encouraging to see the progress people are making. There is something wonderful about progress in liturgical music--everything repeats in a year; you learn one piece and it comes back to be sung with greater familiarity, comprehension, and enjoyment. My choir has a long tradition of singing all the Gregorian propers, and when new singers come in, it is quite daunting. They follow along obediently for the year, and then a couple of weeks into the year after they came in, they say "Eureka! This is where I came in," and are overwhelmed by the memory of the extent and greatness of the repertory, and overjoyed by the familiarity of the chants they had sung a year ago.

My choir has been an entirely volunteer choir; this year we have added a paid singer on each part, with substantial improvement in the sound.

Chanting Salve Regina for a funeral with three priests today, on 16 hours notice, after learning the piece over night. Went off without a hitch.

Woo hoo!

Have fun stormin' the castle.

New parish for me so starting small. Found out 2 days ago that the parish's organ which no one plays works beautifully so I'm off to learn the organ after a 13 year sabbatical from piano due to carpal tunnel. Praying that by Easter we may be able to assemble a small choir for 1-2 Masses but at least that gorgeous organ will herald Christ's triumph over death!