Chant Resources for Prisoner?
  • awruff
    Posts: 94
    Through my prison ministry I learned of a prisoner serving a life term who has taught himself Gregorian chant by reading about it, and says he can sing Latin chant OK. This isn't at the jail where I've ministered so I don't know the man.

    He now wants additional training in how to "do it right." He'd like to have a few guys sing Latin chants with him at the prison Mass. (I can drive to this prison to meet him for a few sessions but I can't really give him a whole class or workshop one-on-one with all my existing commitments.)

    This is the kind of thing one best learns at workshops and conferences - which are not possible for him, obviously. What resources would you recommend for him? I'm at a loss. What books or videos or CDs would be most helpful? This is not a question I've encountered before.

    I'd appreciate your advice and help.

    Thanks,

    Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB
    Thanked by 3M. Jackson Osborn matthewj IanW
  • canadashcanadash
    Posts: 1,501
    Does this person have internet access? If so, how often can he use the internet?
  • Earl_GreyEarl_Grey
    Posts: 904
    Not sure what restrictions there are, but Paraclete Press has several books and CDs for learning chant, such as the Song of Prayer:. http://www.paracletepress.com/the-song-of-prayer-a-practical-guide-to-learning-gregorian-chant.html

    What about your new book, through GIA Cantica Nova?
  • BenBen
    Posts: 3,114
    The recordings on watershed might be very helpful for him, if he can. Or you could burn him CDs if he can have CDs but not internet.
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,414
    Can this gentleman receive items from outside? Such as CDs or chant books from which he might benefit? Is there a place to which we can send these things with assurance that he will get them? What a wonderful opportunity for ministry.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Fr. Anthony, I've had this experience. And as you likely know (and for the benefit of those who haven't had the joy of helping prisoners in the faith) each institution is somewhat run akin to each parish. Protocols about who and what comes in as accessible to prisoner varies even by the shifts and the warden's subordinates who each have their own procedures.
    The obvious difficulty here is that you have had no direct access to the gentleman. You therefore haven't any way as of yet to assess what he actually needs to "do it right" and his learning modalities. My experience is that something very rudimentary such as OCP's "Laus Tibi" would easily pass muster with the gatekeepers and the prisoner looking to expand his abilities. I don't think there's a companion CD, however if you're successful (with a chaplain's help) in getting the book to the inmate, wait for a while and have the chaplain report to you his progress. Then you'll know if certain chants in that collection are of specific interest and it wouldn't be difficult to assemble and burn a CD of those that he needs as a model. Then, of course, go through the same protocols with a chaplain as guide through the admin. system to deliver the CD. If that strategy works in all ways, just continue it upping the ante as progress allows.
    People would be surprised how inmates of all stripes (pun not intended) take to chant right away. Why wouldn't they in chapel? Some of them have internalized a monastic ethos to their incarceration.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    I have nothing constructive to add here except:
    I find this story very moving. God is surely gracious.

    He'd like to have a few guys sing Latin chants with him at the prison Mass.

    I have just made this man an official member of The Caballa Cantorum.
    Thanked by 1Mark M.
  • awruff
    Posts: 94
    Thanks for the help, all.

    OK, it was just clarified, the man is out of state, far from me, so I won't be able to visit him.

    He's not permitted to access internet. Books can be mailed to him. I will ask whether recorded items can be used.

    awr
    Thanked by 3canadash Ben IanW
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