Dear Sacred Music Colleagues:

On Friday and Saturday, 21-22 July, the Southeastern Summer Sacred Music Workshop will be held at Saint Brigid Catholic Church in Johns Creek, Georgia. More information is available at www.southeasternsacredmusic.com, including faculty and repertoire. The music packet will be posted in the next few days.

Just a tease, though: we will be singing a Communion by Ludwig Senfl (1486-1543), student and successor of Heinrich Isaac (1450-1517) at the court of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. This setting was recently transcribed from a 16th-Century mensural part book and does not appear to be in print anywhere. Furthermore, the version of the chant on which Senfl, Isaac and other contemporaries based their settings is different from the one in the modern Graduale Romanum; so the Advanced Women's Schola will sing the version from the Graduale Nitriensis before the Senfl.

Among the faculty are Rev. Charles Byrd, pastor, and Bridget Scott, DOM at Our Lady of the Mountains in Jasper, GA; Janet Gorbitz, General Manager of the CMAA; Dr. Albert Ahlstrom, Director of Music at Holy Spirit in Atlanta; Maria McDaniel Willathgamuwa, mezzo-soprano, a professional singer, voice teacher and recent convert to the Catholic faith; Mary Garner and Andrea Shepherd Tierney of the Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, TN; and Jonathan Eason, DOM at Saint Brigid.

Breakout sessions to include the following:
Dr. Albert Ahlstrom: Organ Improvisation on Gregorian Melodies
Janet Gorbitz: Spanish-language chant resources (much needed in our area)
Bridget Scott: Strategies for Implementing Sacred Music in your Parish (also much needed)
Mary Garner and Andrea Shepherd Tierney: Teaching Chant to Children and Adapting the Ward Method to a Parish Setting
Maria McDaniel Willathgamuwa: Putting the "Well" into "Who sings well, prays twice"
Jonathan Eason: It's OK if you Don't Sing

I'll post the entire music lineup in a subsequent comment. All are welcome! Regular registration has been extended through 14 July.