In alphabetical order and not necessarily about liturgical music:

The Chants of the Vatican Gradual (Dominic Johner OSB)
The Liturgy Betrayed (Denis Crouan, Marc Sebanc)
The Reform of the Reform? A Liturgical Debate: Reform or Return (Fr. Thomas M. Kocik)
Sing Like a Catholic (Jeffrey Tucker)
Why Catholics Can't Sing: The Culture of Catholicism and the Triumph of Bad Taste (Thomas Day) -- with reservations

I've also devoured the free online excerpts of Ratzinger's writings on the liturgy.

Aristotle and Jan, thank you so much for sharing the list. All the books sound great. I'm all set for my next few years' reading. I hope others benefit from the lists too.

Johner
Dobzsay
Ruff
Ratzinger (Spirit)
Day

yes, that's a very sad feature of Fr. Ruff's work.

My favorite:

The Spirit of the Liturgy- Ratzinger. This was the book that changed my outlook and gave me hope. I share it whenever possible (on my third copy).

Might I use this thread to make a plea to read liturgists and musicians other than the ones we tout here. Only because one needs to see the spectrum in which we are all working. I regularly read the Wanderer right next to the National Catholic Reporter (talk about spectrum here!) and as much as I hate to admit it, I also read GIA Quarterly and the NPM magazine. I found a wonderful article by Paul Turner in this month's GIA mag that argues for singing the dialogues and other parts of mass. Knowing him a little and seeing it in the GIA mag tells me there is a movement afoot. I find hope in little places.

It is my fervent belief that when we can converse with all sides in this question (which I believe will only get more contentious), we will be able to help others "see the light" and make our arguments for reform more palatable and more convincing. I even read Cardinal Mahony (its good for sentimentality and historical archives).(You may smile now)

Just a plug for all not to get too far into your own corner even as you spread the "gospel" of reform.

You know Jeffrey, I regard the "cost" of Fr. Ruff's book as not sad at all, but worth the sacrifice in ratio to the benefits from its reading. I understand your point; but we can loan it to others who're up to the task. Just put a GPS device in it before you hand it over.
If you think about it, it's forefather was his dissertation. Dissertation volumes are about $100 in any case anyway.

Gee, I think I should get this first.

Papal Legislation on Sacred Music (70AD-~1962) by Mgr. Hayburn

Foundational material of the first order.

1- What about The Organic Development of the Liturgy by Alcuin Reid. I'm loving it, and seeing several patterns (and disruptions) to reforms in the liturgy over the last 1000+ years.

2- My favorite to date has also been Ratzinger's Spirit of the Liturgy, and I really want to get the book that inspired the author and the title, also The Spirit of the Liturgy by Guardini. Mary Jane has been running intriguing bits on her site.

3- Documents, Documents, Documents. Sacred musicians would be wise to regard summations as just that and proceed as soon as possible to digesting FULL documents for full context, etc. Consider Sing to the Lord and such. Even with a trustworthy person summarizing, its always best to (at least eventually) go to the source.

Speaking of summations, thanks for this tip- I will get it in short order!
Papal Legislation on Sacred Music (70AD-~1962) by Mgr. Hayburn

Geez.
Nothing by Eugene Walsh, Gabe Huck or Bernard Huibers?
Hmmmm.
I'll just go back to skimming thru "Original Blessing" by Mathew Fox....


Kidding. Just kidding!

The Spirit of the Liturgy - Ratzinger
A New Song for the Lord - Ratzinger
Feast of Faith - Ratzinger
The Lamb's Supper - Hahn (although not on music, it does give some good theology on the liturgy)
Why Catholics Can't Sing - Thomas Day (no reservations, he's pretty accurate)

This gives me an idea that I'm going to try some sort of "books to Lend' program in our parish by schola. I've already listed books I can lend to my schola members in the blog. But I think I'm going to 'risk' lending my books to others in my parish.(most non-technical books that I have are not too expensive anyway) I'll post in the church bulltin that schola is lending books to others that are related to the liturgy and liturgical music to promote sacred music so we can recieve God's grace more fully from our liturgy. (I have to find better wording for the post) I'll keep those books in the music room and have people write their names and dates and book title of the book they are borrowing or just simply send an email to me. (maybe some 'praise band' might pick up and start reading some. who knows?) Also since our parish is starting a bit of latin Ordinary parts, I'll be posting musicasacra.com for people to read, listen and freedownload Gregorian chant. Another thing I'll do is I am donating one of my copy of "Sing Like a Catholic' in the parish bookrack.

Just received my copy of The Spirit of the Liturgy, by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. After all the recommendations on this forum, I couldn’t let my education continue without reading it! Thanks!

Hi Miacoyne

I have been downloading Icons for years. You are absolutely right about them having the same quality as the chant. IMHO we as RCs lost a great treasure of sacred art in the segregation of Catholic Byzantium, Russian and Coptic Icons. I have one writing from a Russian priest that talks about the anti-icon and it's devestating impact on our homes and culture. He references the idolization of celebrities (posters) and of course the TV as being two of the present day anti-icons, not to mention the ultimate anti-icon of pornography. If you are interested I can point you to the article.

There are a few websites that host extremely hi-res icon images that make fantastic giclee prints which is an inexpensive way to adorn your home and surround yourself with holy images.

One of the best is www.Russian-icons.com.

Another interesting article here

www.saintignatiuschurch.org/icons.html

Yes. This is why there is a great distnction between the eastern and western depictions. In the tradition of iconograhy the images are made in a two dimensional fashion and are "given up" by the author. This perfectly reflects the way chant is composed. Composers do not sign their names. It is not about the composer with chant or the artist with the icon. It is only about bringing the viewer or the hearer into the presence of God. The western traditions tend to focus much more on the humanity and the emotion intertwined in religious sentiment. The imges are three dimensional, and focus more on the artist. Michaelangelo, as great as his works may be, do not approach the mystery and other-worldliness that is written into the icon. In music it is like comparing the GC Ave Maria to Shubert's Ave Maria. In the music of Shubert I hear humanity singing a prayer; in the chant I am praying the prayer.

"In music it is like comparing the GC Ave Maria to Shubert's Ave Maria. In the music of Shubert I hear humanity singing a prayer; in the chant I am praying the prayer."

Before I started to sing chants, my faith relied on my feelings and reasons. And the divinity was just an abstract concept. GC truly led me experience His divinity and His infinite love, which fills my emotion with joy. Our Pope also mentions in one of his writings about how music should be more spiritual,which then fills the feeings, not the other way around. If the music depends on just the feeling and the artistic skills, it cannot reach the spiritual level that sacred music strives for.