While at one time I was rather enamored of LTP, I have believed for some years that they are stuck in an 1980's mentality. Closely associated with the Office of Divine Worship in Chicago, I believe they broke with it when Cardinal George entered into the picture. This book, while appreciating the tradition, does not do it justice and praises the chant in a back-handed manner (one option among the many).

who is LTP? I can't picture Dr. Schaeffer treating chant in any thing resembling a back-handed manner . . . Kevin are you talking about the right person/group?

I think Shaefer is a big chant fan, not that far away from Mahrt.

Shortly after Cardinal George arrived in Chicago, there were major changes at LTP. I believe Msgr. Mannion from Salt Lake City was put in charge. Gabe Hueck (sp?) left and so did others. LTP's older publications are still in print. However, Schaefer's book and the Mundelein Psalter point to a very different direction. I don't know who's running the place now because I believe Msgr. Mannion is no longer there.

Which direction is Schaedfer's book pointing to? More latin chant or less? And what or who is LTP? Anyone?

Again, its good. I just want something stronger.

LTP is Liturgy Training Publications. Publisher of liturgical materials out of Chicago. Publishes a variety of materials relating to the liturgy.

Chonak, I found LTP in google. Thanks. There are also many abb. in this forum that I naver found in inernet search also. (I ask people, but my husband look at the map. He insists that I should look at the map. ;-)
If Moses had ever asked, instead of wondering around for 40 years...

Yes, the book in question was Michael Joncas' From Sacred Music to Ritual Song. I was reading about 10 books for a paper I am presenting at a local university.
Again, apologies to all for my meanderings.

Kevin

It can be very confusing for many people, and they can be misled easily. I came to understand the nature of Sacred music and the Liturgy by reading many articles and books by defenders of Sacred music, because I got interested to know. (still need to learn a lot more) I don't know how we can convince those who haven't got time or motivated to read or learn about them. The ones who just go to mass on Sundays and sing whatever is given to them.

Thanks, G and Kevin for sharing,

I profess, I love the title Ephemerists. Gives it a classy title.

"I made it up."

Do you feel better now?
I'm not going to be as coy or forgiving as MJB, G. I have and have read the Joncas book a couple of times. I've never intuited from those readings or your presumptive analysis that Joncas either reduced or deduced the heirarchy of options in all the documents as literal evidence of a personal ambiguity or ambivilence _against_ the pride of place of chant, then polyphony in the Liturgy. And to then blithely associate his person, his academic credentials and his integrity with this clever moniker sheds more light upon your prejudices than his.
When did we stop being Christian, as well as being intelligent and civil? Joncas' little tract should, if anything, be regarded as an earlier, Cliffs-notes version of Fr. Ruff's magnificent volume. Neither that effort, nor he should be subjected to stereotypical, clever polemics in order to advance one's own agenda.
You need some evidence of Joncas' being rooted and grounded, and not floating among the clouds? Have your choir read through his SALVE REGINA if you really think he's a floater.
Honestly.

In fairness to the discussion, Fr. Joncas (yes, he is a priest) suffers from the claim to fame of Eagle's Wings composition. In truth, a survey of his writings (articles in Worship, the above-mentioned book and writings in the NPM magazine) leave me unconvinced of the support towards the goals of the reform. His comments about the experience of the Washington papal liturgy left me concerned about the ongoing discussion about ethnicity and liturgical music. He commented that the liturgy was "hospitable" toward certain groups, as though they needed hospitality. I was profoundly disheartened by those comments.

I would however, agree to the question of his compositional prowess growing from the time of OEW. I believe his time at San Anselmo in Rome pressed that question forward,as did his thinking about the questions of the liturgy and sacred music. The aforementioned book recognizes the place of chant, but I remain unconvinced of any real desire to see it in place as an alternative to the the status quo. In fact, in my presentation I am currently preparing, I reckon with his writing as somewhere in between the present divides in the American scene. He is grounded in the tradition, but to use the present Holy Father's thoughts, I believe him to be conflicted about the hermeneutic of continuity. Joncas has the academic credibility to entertain such questions. He is no "floater".

These are my personal thoughts and reflect my journey through some of the same places. I am a just a poor church musician who loves Tournemire and has struggled for years very conflicted about the state of affairs. Thank God for conversion.

I got Schaefer' book and am enjoying reading it. He emphasizes the role of Gregorian chant in liturgy through the various reforms of The Church. The book can be also appealing to people who are distant from the chant and polyphny (a good gift to MDs or priests in your churches). It gives many practical suggestions. Highly recommand, especially for musicians who are trying to bring 'the Spirit of the Litugy' in OF mass.

Sorry to interrupt you, but I just read an article from Our Sunday Visitor Feb. I, 2009, 'Ancient Chant Appeals to Modern Ears." In that article, Fr. Joncas had an interview and answered a few questions, but it didn't impress me that he was very enthusiastic about chants. I don't know whether the amount of his knowledge on the subject necessarily balances his support of it in reality.

Thanks, Mary jane, I wish they had an interview with Dr. Schaefer, instead.

Here's another book from the same publisher that I'm sure would be of interest to many here--a monograph from 2005 by Cristoph Tietze on the subject of introits. I thought at first that this was his musical collection Introit Hymns for the Church Year because of the similar title, but really it's a book-length rationale for that collection. The contents of this book are of much broader interest than its title and premise would suggest.

Planning on using Schaefer's book for a course in Liturgical Music this Winter. I will need to "fill in" but Catholic Music Through the Ages is a very good place to start.