All Discussions - MusicaSacra Church Music Forum

I gave up and became a truck driver.

searchfgold6789 — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 01:47:34 +0000

Follow-up to: https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/discussion/22352/advice-needed-auditions-and-job-applications/
TL:DR; I was burned out of my first two jobs straight out of college (DMA) back to back. The first one mysteriously asked me to resign and offered me a severance package, which I took, and I never found out the real reason. The second one siphoned the organist wedding and funeral pay and refused to fix the issue, and instead the Diocese proposed to change my job description; I walked off that job, as there were other red flags too. The people here gave me wonderful advice and encouragement. As I went along being unemployed and still rejected by even the most intuitive posts, I gradually got more panicked and frustrated, as you can see from one or two of the comments. That thread left off with me still being unemployed.

We also had another baby during that time. Since I graduated, our family has spent more time on food stamps and medicaid than bringing in a non-zero household income. This should not be possible considering the alleged demand for qualified church musicians, and the well-documented "revival" of Catholicism in many parts of the country. Something is wrong here.

I wound up moving back to my home state close to family. I acquired my CDL in 7 weeks, and the state paid for it. The CDL school had job boards listing companies that were specific pipelines from that school. Instead of you applying to the job and hoping to win a contest to get the job, you talked to a recruiter and they tried to convince you to join their company - they applied to you. If you struggled to get a job, there were people who you could talk to at the school to help you.

I was hired by a local company within two weeks of graduating, and now my job is to deliver cases of soda to local restaurants and stores. The entry level trainee compensation package is better than what I made at either church job. I will not lose my job if management changes. If I do something wrong, the boss tells me what it is and I correct it. After I go home for the day, no one bothers me and I just chill with my family. I receive good health insurance mostly paid for by the company. It is a very physical job, and there is a risk of injury, but I know how to use my body thanks to Alexander technique, and I will not wear down. Instead, now I'm in the best shape of my life.

Out with it now, is the church field as we used to know it just dead/dying? I have heard of many similar stories, and the BS I went through is certainly seen as typical by my more experienced colleagues. But having gone through the process of entering the transportation field, I laugh at the fact that I jumped through so many hoops to find a low-paying church music post without even being 100% sure I'd get the job and it would last.

Maybe it's time for major changes in the church music profession. What if church music had the bare minimum professional standards that truck driving does? Then we would abolish pointless audition contests, require salary ranges to be posted, hold Dioceses accountable for mistreatment, make sure qualifications are adequately recognized, and provide standardized trainee programs - all things that most professional fields have. How do we make this happen? :)

It's still my dream to work full-time teaching people how to sing together for the liturgy, and providing glorious organ music for Mass and the Office. But it's just a dream, I guess. I tried as hard as I could, and at the end of the day I don't regret getting those degrees.

Choir Guidelines/Rules

SingToJesus — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 11:59:12 +0000

Greetings-

Would anyone care to share their choir guidelines? I'm working in a small rural parish that has an insular, low expectations and entitled choir culture with several lovely people along with some domineering, toxic elements operating as well. I welcome the opportunity to review any that you've already implemented, as I write this important document.

I've got a good working draft with structure around rehearsals, communications/problem solving, while centering the music ministry around spiritual formation as the basis for effective musical service, along with a code of conduct, but I'm in a challenging environment, and want to make sure I've got the best possible framework as I educate, rebuild and hopefully inspire the choir culture.

Thank you!

How to proceed with saving a neglected pipe organ?

SponsaChristi — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:44:31 +0000

There’s a beautiful 113 year old Catholic Church two hours away from my city with phenomenal acoustics (tall parabolic ceilings, zero carpeting, acoustic panels, or felt banners to absorb the sound), beautiful stained glass from France as well as other pieces of genuine sacred art. The church itself is a piece of sacred architectural art. It also contains the original 1927 Casavant pipe organ from the Diocese’s Cathedral. It was moved in the 50s when the Cathedral’s organ was significantly upgraded.

I was shocked and depressed when the Diocese closed the church in 2011 claiming it “had no historical significance” (It was the first Catholic Parish in the city and built mostly by hand by the Irish Catholic immigrants and sits in the heart of downtown along with the city’s historical buildings.) It sat closed until very recently. A group of parishioners appealed to the Vatican and the Vatican determined due process wasn’t followed when deciding to close the church and ordered the Diocese to re-open it.

It currently is in need of at least $3.3 million in repairs and upgrades to bring it back up to standards. This amount was announced back in January on this year and as of April, they’ve already raised half of the amount. I’ve also found $225,000 in municipal and provincial matching grants to apply for to fund the repair and revitalization of historical buildings (and I know there are more. This was just a quick search). Unfortunately, the bishop won’t allow any of the repairs to begin unit all the funds are raised. Unfortunately, that includes the leaking roof, which means more damage is accumulating. That being said, considering this is a small city with a relatively small and older Catholic population (though, there’s both a college and a university in the city and the young Catholic population has grown significantly since I moved away), as well as also fundraising to build a new large Catholic Church “complex” that amount is impressive.

Anyways, as far as I know, the organ has been sitting in the closed church for at least 12 to 13 years, possibly more. I haven’t seen any mention of the pipe organ in any of the repairs or upgrades. I don’t even think it’s on their radar or if they even know, at least IMHO, it’s somewhat of a historically significant organ. Furthermore, I don’t even think there’s a Catholic organist in the city to oversee its care and maintenance. According to online information it’s listed as “playable”, but that was posted in 2019 while the church was closed and the organ not even accessible. I don’t trust it.

It’s fairly small (6 stops and between 300 and 400 pipes). I’ve attached its stop list and other relevant information. Based on my experience of hearing it once (while sitting in the balcony amongst the pipes) it’s rather underwhelming, at least compared to my parish’s organ, which is almost 4x the size despite the church being smaller (mine is approximately 500 people whereas the other church is closer to 600-700 people). That being said, given the church’s amazing acoustics, sheer beauty, and long aisle, the city’s growing young adult Catholic population, it is a prime location for beautiful Catholic marriages to take place with beautiful pipe organ music. I believe a functional and well-maintained pipe organ, even if it is a bit on the small size, is a necessity and has the potential to generate revenue to put towards the building’s upkeep.

Ideally, it would be eventually cleaned, rejuvenated and expanded into something that is more appropriate for the size of the church building. The good news is there’s an organ builder and technician only two hour away, so mileage costs would be minimal.

I’m definitely not an organist, nor do I have any current connection to the church, as I don’t live in the city any more. I also don’t really have any of my own funds at this time to invest in this organ. That being said I feel like I can’t just turn a blind eye and let it waste away.

The current pastor isn’t really interested in sacred art, beauty, the Church’s traditions or monuments. His background is commerce and he’s about functionality, return on investment, and other business aspects. Don’t get me wrong, I know that’s important, but just from my own experience of the beauty and the distinct Catholic architecture of this church played in my return to the faith* when words and arguments wouldn’t be effective, leave me to believe that it can have the same impact on bringing other people to the Catholic faith.

Anyways, all that being said, is there anything I can do to help prevent any further damage to this organ and ideally get it restored and taken care of? I don’t even know how to find out the current condition of this organ. Any advice would be helpful and appreciated.

*I moved away from home to the city for school, but quickly became homesick. Despite not being a practicing Catholic and having lost all faith in the Real Presence of the Eucharist when I was around 9 from watching people’s irreverence towards it, the homesickness made me want something familiar. I recognized the church’s Catholic steeple from the other end of the city, went driving around downtown until I found the church and started attending Mass there in 2007 until Ash Wednesday of 2011 during “Ashes” I could no longer tolerate crappy church music (we’re talking drums, accordion, tambourine, and 12 string guitar and the worst music you could find in Breaking Bread at the time, with the exception of one Palm Sunday when there was a random young man was playing the church’s pipe organ) after discovering the Traditional Latin Mass two hours away where, after three cities, two provinces, two dioceses and 5 churches, I finally found a priest willing to hear my confession. Then I just started making the two hour one way drive to the other city for the TLM.

Mass of the Holy Rosary (Rev. R.J. Sorin)

LexOrandi — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 15:24:16 +0000

This might be a long shot as I don't know how well-circulated this Mass setting was...I'm looking for a score of the Mass of the Holy Rosary by Rev. R.J. Sorin which has an organ accompaniment. I currently have an arrangement of it for three voices, but the organ accompaniment is very sparse as it's basically just the voice parts. I'm hoping there might be a more substantial accompaniment available, but can't find anything online except for a MuseScore arrangement with an accompaniment for strings which will be a bit time-consuming to typeset for organ.

Any help appreciated!

Publishers announced for new Breviary!

RMSawicki — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:12:45 +0000

In case anyone missed this...

Word on Fire and Ascension Press have been officially selected to publish the new four-volume edition of The Liturgy of the Hours.

I must say, I had visions of several different firms getting "the call", but neither of these two were on my radar (although WOF's monthly paperback of the current edition probably should've been a tip-off!)

Deo gratias! The initial information is impressive, as well as the posted images!

Gaudete in Domino Semper!

Does anyone know this one: "Christ became obedient..."

MusicLady — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:27:29 +0000

A long time ago a choir director in Toronto gave us this piece printed on a Ditto machine! (Yes, THAT long ago... early '70s... the purple ink copies that had to be photocopied before they faded.) I'm looking for (1) the composer, and (2) a recording, but I'm not even sure of the title! Attached the copy I engraved a few years ago. Would appreciate any tips... thanks!
Maggie (in Vancouver, Canada)

The role of the Offertory Chant

FitReverentia — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 23:08:52 +0000

I'm trying to better understand the Offertory Chant in its relation to the Mass (TLM).

The Introit and Communion are related to procession, and their duration and style match accordingly.
The Gradual/Alleluia take as long as they take; meditative psalms that hold their place among the readings.

The Offertory...I have heard as the musical offering, made in conjunction with the offering of the bread and wine, but maybe that's not the whole picture. Is it practically meant to last until the incesation of the altar begins? The offertory varies in length much more diversely than the Introit and Communion, so it seems to be a "as long as it takes" approach, not entirely unlike the Gradual/Alleluia. There are also the ornate Offertory verses that can be added to extend the chant, but what is the practical coverage that the offertory is meant to serve?

I understand that many will use the time after the Offertory chant to offer other hymns or songs that they find suitable, but I first want to better understand the nature of the Offertory. For example, I recently learned that the communion is short for a Sung Mass because practically no one, historically, received communion except the celebrant, meaning that anything longer would have expanded the chant past its role in the overall liturgy.

Hymns for the Home

ksandigo — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:00:43 +0000

Over the past few months I've been dedicating some articles on my Substack to seasonally-appropriate Catholic music with approachability for the novice in mind. They are collected in the series "Hymns for the Home" and the latest article came out this morning, "Everyday Hymns for the Home." Hopefully they are helpful to members here or to their choral communities.

The Pontiical mass in the Sacrada Familia in Barcelona with Pope Leo

Simon — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:08:17 +0000

What a disappointment `- I had hoped for a magnificent Spanish Rennaaissance mass with full choir of the best singers from Barcelona of music by Morales or one of his other Spanish compatriots . Just a boring plainsong mass.

De ritibus servandis in cantu Missæ

Andrew_Malton — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:15:47 +0000

[This is all about the traditional Roman Rite, and not about the Novus Ordo.]

The 1908 Vatican Graduale contains nine numbered rules under the above title, providing for how a cantor, cantors, and chorus, and the priest, are to be assigned the various parts of the ordinary and the proper. The same title appears in the Liber Usualis: in an English version of that it's called Rubrics For The Chant Of The Mass.

I’d like to know: is there a predecessor for these rubrics? or were they composed for the Vatican Gradual? How normative are they?

The 1963 Liber’s rubrics contain additional paragraphs proposing: ways to extend the Offertory (e.g. with psalm verses or with the more ancient Gregorian chants); how to not sing the Benedictus; and how to extend the Communion rite music when there are “other communicants”.

I’d like to know : are the Liber’s additions just suggestions by Solesmes? Or have they the same status as the rubrics in the Vatican edition?

In general these rules refer to “one, two, or even four cantors” for various things and with various asterisks. I feel sure that the observance of asterisks is not a religious obligation! But I’d like to know: is singing by one cantor forbidden, or discouraged, or neutral? Are there customs (or rules!) about how many singers and who sings what, recorded elsewhere?

Lastly I see nothing there forbidding mixed (treble with tenor or female with male: ultimately, octave organum) chanting, but I’ve certainly heard pushback against it. Is it anywhere forbidden or discouraged?

(Tra le sollecitudini doesn’t reach any of the above, although it approaches some of them distantly.)

These are all practical questions, albeit not hard pressing, for our years-standing schola of three women and three men.

Pre-CMAA: Buzard Pipe Organ Builders - Tour

Bri — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:09:23 +0000

A small group of us reached out to Buzard Pipe Organ Builders and are planning to tour their workshop on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 11:00 am.

If you are interested in joining us, please register through this link.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSfPAfEzSyFs3TKlZcYjjHcfkXGelepW5QEKluP8xM9WQNTg/viewform?usp=dialog

Pre-CMAA: Buzard Organ Builders Tour
https://buzardorgans.com/

Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
Time: 11:00 am

Address:
Buzard Pipe Organ Builders
112 West Hill Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820

Cost: Free

Parking:
Street parking is available.
The Hill Street Parking Deck (123 W. Hill Street) is directly across the street. The cost is $0.75 per hour.
https://champaignil.gov/public-works/parking/hill-street-parking-deck/

gabc gregoriocolor red notes?

probe — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:01:04 +0000

Is it possible in gabc to colour the square notes rather than text red?
fa (f) has no effect
It might be a way in solfege teaching materials to highlight which notes are a half tone up or down from the previous note.

New chant inspired Magnificat for women's choir

Xopheros — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:10:55 +0000

Although there might not be many here that sing in or direct a women's choir, but for those wo are, my new three part Magnificat might be of interest. I have made a video with score underlaid (sung by Julie Gaulcke, accompanied by me) and the sheet music is available from my website.

I had written this piece for the "Music Award for Choral Music" presented by edition49 and Musikwerkstatt Siegburg, where it was awarded a shared third place out of approximately 300 submissions from 19 countries, which is quite a honor for me.

Fees, rates, for choral weddings

Jonathan_Culbreath — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:39:24 +0000

Hello all,

I'm wondering what policies you have regarding fees and rates for weddings where a choir is present to sing, if you have a paid or semi-professional choir. For cantor weddings, at my parish, we pay a higher rate than our regular parish masses, at about $140/hour, which usually comes to something like $210 for a single wedding (at an hour and half, including "warm up" beforehand). But choral masses usually require more rehearsal time, and more personnel. I don't relish the idea of recruiting unpaid volunteers for wedding masses, unless they are family members or friends of the couple who are volunteering as a sort of wedding gift... When a couple asks the parish to provide a choir, I think it is only fair that all the singers be compensated. Even if they normally only volunteer for regular parish masses. But I'm open to your ideas on this. Such a thing could quickly get expensive, and perhaps that is just how it is. So I'm curious what your policies are, how you manage choral masses for weddings, all the ins and outs, etc.

Thank you!

Guadalupe Procession

FitReverentia — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:28:16 +0000

I know this is far in advance but I wanted to ask while I was still thinking about it. The past several times that my (small) parish has offered a Guadalupe procession, someone in the hispanic community gets out their bluetooth speaker and blasts "La Guadalupana." I have always wanted to offer live singing for the procession, but other than La Guadalupana I don't know any other songs traditionally sung specifically for Our Lady of Guadalupe. And while La Guadalupana has a particular importance and common recognition in Mexico, especially done with full Mariachi complement, I can't help but feel like I'm singing a version of B.I.N.G.O.

My personal defects aside, does anyone know other more reverent songs, primarily en español, that are fitting for a Guadalupe procession?

Gospel Acclamation for OT

RosieDreese — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 21:24:23 +0000

Hello, all!
While I’ve been reading this forum for years, this is my first time posting. Before I ask my question, I first want to thank you all for your generosity in sharing your wealth of knowledge! What an incredible blessing this group is to so many!
Now for my question… I’m looking for a Gospel Acclamation for our school Mass during OT. The music teacher who will be prepping our kids would like to use the Celtic Alleluia. I’m hoping to offer her an alternative…. Something closer to chant (less accompaniment and certainly not the driving rhythm), but with harmonies. Does anyone have anything they love that might fit the bill? Any thoughts are appreciated!

When the sopranos are so out of tune

Ceci — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 08:56:29 +0000

So I started in a new post, and the choir is very depleted - a lot of the good singers in the female sections left when I started unfortunately. I have 3 sopranos but they are very out of tune - one lady should be an alto but she is refusing to move - she says she 'cant sing low' but when she tries to sing high it pulls the other 2 down. I'm trying to recruit new members but no luck so far. Am feeling pretty downhearted to be honest - everything we do sounds awful. Am thinking maybe do 3-part things and join the altos and sopranos in a mid-range. Any advice gratefully received!

Book release: new edition of Saulnier's "Gregorian Chant: a guide"

chonak — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 02:48:06 +0000

Since 2010, CMAA has offered a reprint edition of the book Gregorian Chant: a guide by former Solesmes chant master Daniel Saulnier (1954-2023), translated by musicologist Edward Schaefer.

This year, we are releasing a new version based on the second French edition, under the hawk-like editorial inspection of some guy named Chonak.

Both the CMAA Shop and the Amazon book display have samples you can view on-line.

For customers outside the US, the book is also available at the following Amazon country sites:
UK DE FR ES IT NL PL SE BE IE JP CA AU

Pope Leo XIV celebration of Mass this evening at Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

Liam — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:15:03 +0000

The Mass at Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (cued 53 minutes in to start with the entrance of Felipe VI & Queen Letizia) on the 100th anniversary of the death of Antonio Gaudi, and the blessing of the central tower, now the tallest church in the world at 566 feet (exceeding Ulm Minster):

https://www.youtube.com/live/cc0cZAcja4g?si=QoEg4O1BnE6ZfkJT&t=3374

Mass of St. John Henry Newman (2026 Revision) pt. 2

achoyce91 — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:35:24 +0000

Ok, I added the melody in the right clef, and the second bass clef is reserved for the pedal. Let me know what y'all think!
https://youtu.be/qOuIv31nv3M

Cor Jesu, Caritatis Victima (Cantus Selecti No. 72)

ServiamScores — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:49:30 +0000

I just thought I'd share my engraving and recording of Cor Jesu, Caritatis Victima here in case anyone would prefer it over the old scans you can find online. It's such a lovely chant. It's obviously perfect for Friday's Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. I've scheduled it as a refrain for the people during communion.

Recording:
https://youtu.be/k1VR2BsbP4w

(as an aside, I also added an alternate version of the antiphon which ends "in Te speravi" which feels more appropriate in other contexts than "venite adoremus". Feel free to use it or completely ignore it.)

Looking for Carlo Rossini Offertoria Dominicalia (SA or TB)

NeilWeston — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:16:59 +0000

I am trying to locate a copy or PDF scan of Carlo Rossini's Offertoria Dominicalia : Offertories for All Sundays and Principal Feasts for Two Equal Voices (S.A., or T.B.) with Organ (Fischer Edition No. 8070).

I had thought I had bought a copy on abebooks, but the seller didn't actually have one, even though he told me he had, at one time, about 20 copies. Obviously they've all been sold, and so I was hoping maybe someone here might have bought some, and may be open to selling one to me, or maybe they scanned it!

I cannot seem to find it anywhere online.

Any help would be gratefully received.

Thanks in advance if anyone can assist!

Survey of Sacred Heart Hymnody

Don9of11 — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:13:45 +0000

Over the past four years, I’ve been working through a large collection of historic Catholic hymnals to map the repertoire of hymns dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I’ve just published a preliminary analysis drawing on 1,300+ occurrences across more than 160 hymnals from the 19th and early 20th centuries, revealing a remarkably stable core repertoire that shaped parish devotion for generations and remains highly usable today.

The study explores how this tradition developed across publishers, regions, and immigrant communities, and concludes with a rare archival audio collection from St. Mary’s in Akron (1982), where these very hymns—“O Sacred Heart, O Love Divine,” “To Jesus’ Heart All Burning,” and others—are heard alive in real parish practice decades later. For those interested in exploring or restoring this repertoire, I’ve included two companion resources to make these materials accessible for modern use.

I would be very grateful for any feedback—especially from those who have worked with or revived this repertoire in parish or choral settings.

Survey of Sacred Heart Hymnody

https://www.motherofmercycatholichymns.com/sacred-heart-hymns/

Solemn Salve: "ti" or "ta" in "nobis"?

JeremyCains — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:59:51 +0000

Dear people of the Musica Sacra Forum,

In the 1934 Solesmes Antiphonale Monasticum, I find the third note on "no" in "nobis" to be "ti", i.e. natural (see the first image, from page 177).

In the 2005 Solesmes Antiphonale Monasticum, I find it as a "ta", i.e. flat (see the second image, from page 15 of volume 2).

My question is:

Is there a correct version?

A related question: I previously shared a Latin-English Compline booklet that I had made (Compline Booklet Download (Latin-English side-by-side, LOTH, complete)), and am now wondering what should be in it. I noticed that Hudelmaier's OCO, the Marian antiphons have references to the 1934 AM; does this mean I should replace the 2005 version, which I provided, with the 1934 version?

Any assistance is much appreciated, as I am new to chant, and have no idea how to find the answer to these sorts of questions on my own.

In Christ,
Jeremy.
Laudetur Jesus Christus!

Auguste Chérion's "Messe de Sainte Cécile"

CGM — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:03:59 +0000

Auguste Chérion (1854-1904) was a French composer, a priest (also known as Abbé Chérion), and the successor of Fauré at the Madeleine in Paris. He was a popular and important composer of church music in his day, and back in the mists of time some friends of mine frequently sang his Messe de Sainte Cécile for SATB choir + organ. Their scores were lost and they approached me to ask whether I might be able to help them find fresh sheet music.

I was unfamiliar with the composer and the composition, and so asked a couple eminent musicologists I know, both of whom replied that this piece appears to exist in print form only in perhaps one European library — it has not yet been digitized and added to any online collections.

Would anyone here happen to have a copy of this Mass setting that they'd be willing to scan and share?

Ordinary Form LotH Chanted according to the OCO (2015)

lstager — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 21:18:19 +0000

I have created a pdf of the chanted Liturgy of the Hours (Lauds, Vespers, and Office of Readings) according to the Ordo Cantus Officii (2015) and Holger Peter Sandhofe's Ordo Responsorialis (2004). I use the "official" Latin chanted antiphons, the new approved English translation of the hymns from the Divine Office Hymnal but set to the traditional Latin tunes as in the Liber Hymnarius. For this edition, I used the new Revised Grail Psalms. The only things that won't correspond to the new translation of the LOTH are the readings, intercessions, and the psalter collect prayers. It also does not contain the long readings for the Office of Readings, but it does contain the Responsoria Prolixa, which I mostly selected from Sandhofe's Ordo, but where there was a Latin chant that corresponded to the text in the breviary, I put that chant there instead. It doesn't include the text for the Magnificat or Benedictus because I have those memorized. I do have a small packet with the psalm tones and texts for the Benedictus and Magnificat, but it is not yet fully complete. Also, while I put the psalm tones in, I did not point any of the texts, as it seems that there are many competing philosophies as to how to properly do it in English.

This is the Liturgy of the Hours as I am accustomed to pray it daily. You may notice that much of the volume is redundant. This is because as someone who has prayed/chanted the LotH regularly for many, many years, I have often been frustrated by the amount of page turning (especially in the commons or anytime the Sunday Week 1 psalms are used for instance). I realize that the new translation will be coming out relatively soon, but this is what I will be/have been using in the meantime.

Meanwhile, since I have never made a post in these forums (at least not for a long time), I can introduce myself as Luke Stager. I currently teach at the Madeleine Choir School in Salt Lake City along with singing in the adult choir that is attached to the Cathedral of the Madeleine. I attended seminary at Mount Angel for the Archdiocese of Portland from 2015-2019, during which time I began preparing chanted Sunday Lauds according to the then very new Ordo Cantus Officii for me and a few other seminarians. Since then I have slowly compiled the chants from that volume from various sources. I have drafts of other volumes for Ordinary time, Lent, and Easter, but they require some more formatting currently. If you’d like to support the continuation of this project, please reach out to me via a direct message.

This has been a many years effort, especially during the last six years, and I am happy it is close to completion, at least until the new translation officially comes out. I should say this is for private use only, since this is not by any means a sanctioned or approved publication. If you have any questions about the volume or its compilation, please let me know.

Here is a link to it on Google Drive (you will have to request permission): https://drive.google.com/file/d/18VDcLXJKXGLTpJHw1w-NSFaOFdsA-05g/view?usp=drive_link

Bach's choral in Latin: Tu sanctus ardor, vere lux (Du heilige Brunst, süßer Trost)

Paolo — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:42:12 +0000

I contrafacted the beautiful Bach's choral "Du heilige Brunst, süßer Trost" also known with the line "Komm heilige Geist, herre Gott" with a Latin text, ascribed to M. Praetorius. I modified a CC3.0 score found at imslp.org: https://vmirror.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/d/d7/IMSLP238437-WIMA.f4da-BWV59_BA12.164-220.komm_heiliger_geist.pdf
so the work can be freely used for non commercial purposes, and I also informed the original author of the transcription. I think the new syllabes and accents fit the music (I just have some doubt at bar 7), but if you have any suggestion it would be appreciated.

Favorite Motets/Anthems for Two Voices

emac3183 — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:42:24 +0000

Hello all!

Our normal 4-voice professional choir is down to two for much of the summer (often alto/tenor, but sometimes soprano/alto). We regularly do two motets, one at offertory and one at communion, and I was wondering: what are your favorite motets/anthems for two voices? Bonus points if they're public domain. I am already using a piece from Lassus' Bicinia and plan to comb Perosi's Melodiae Sacrae.

English and Latin appreciated--this is a Novus Ordo Mass.