CharlesW

Homily Length?
Having studied music at a Protestant college, the ministerial candidates were given courses in effective sermon preparation and in preaching. Do Catholic seminarians have such courses? Many are so bad at it I do wonder, at times.

Comment by CharlesW April 25 permalink
Rest in peace PP Francis
Francis was definitely an enigma.

Comment by CharlesW April 25 permalink
Rest in peace PP Francis
Supposedly, one of the reasons for electing Francis was his financial expertise. In fairness, he did clear up some of the financial mess in parts of the Vatican. As I can attest, there are many priests and bishops out there who have no clue when i…

Comment by CharlesW April 25 permalink
Rest in peace PP Francis
Maybe Francis was a shining example of the Peter Principle. The idea that in a hierarchical organization, people tend to be promoted to their level of incompetence. This means that employees are promoted for their good performance in one role unti…

Comment by CharlesW April 25 permalink
Homily Length?
In my years as a church musician, I always noticed from the vantage point of the loft what happened during sermons. After the scripture reading the phones came out. Was anyone really listening?

Comment by CharlesW April 25 permalink
new music director - recommended reading?
The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Comment by CharlesW April 16 permalink
College Suggestions for Organ and/or Composition Major and Musical Wisdom Requested
Agreed on the boring part - LOL.

Comment by CharlesW April 5 permalink
College Suggestions for Organ and/or Composition Major and Musical Wisdom Requested
One thing an organist told me before I went to college, learn something else in addition to music. Then you can always make a living if or when music doesn't pan out. It has been very good advice.

Comment by CharlesW April 5 permalink
We Songs
Anything but they/them.

Comment by CharlesW April 4 permalink
We Songs
"Anthem" indeed is the object lesson of impoverishment of lyrics and music, and anyone who programs it willingly but objects to the "archaisms" of classical hymn texts ... has issues to self-manage. "Anthem" is probabl…

Comment by CharlesW April 4 permalink
“It’s easy to mistake emotional manipulation for a movement of God, right?”
Some of the more evangelical denominations are raking in the cash with emotional music.

Comment by CharlesW March 22 permalink
The Hymnal Industrial Complex
I was never fond of "Gift of Finest Wheat," but there is so, so much worse out there.

Comment by CharlesW March 22 permalink
Question for My Byzantine Friends on the Akathist Hymn
So... say the A word or put the indulgence at risk? Indulgence? We'll have none of that nonsense. Is outrage!

Comment by CharlesW March 22 permalink
The Hymnal Industrial Complex
I always found the solution to bad hymn singing is to play louder. What do you think those reeds are for?

Comment by CharlesW March 22 permalink
Perfect Instrument for Novel Liturgies
I used to play Entry of the Gladiators for some of my students. For some reason, they loved it. They also liked "The Burning of Rome." Don't let the "contemporary" crowd hear it. They may insist on it at every mass.

Comment by CharlesW March 19 permalink
Question for My Byzantine Friends on the Akathist Hymn
I think some in the west forget that no matter what time of year it is, Sundays are always resurrectional. We do change liturgies for the Great Fast (Lent) but we change from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom to the Liturgy of St. Basil.

Comment by CharlesW March 17 permalink
Non-Christian Music Directors Now Approved for the Catholic Church
As long as they don't drag Aunt Bessie out of the retirement home to play "In the Garden," most can survive long enough to get through the funerals. I have known several Protestant musicians who converted after playing regularly for …

Comment by CharlesW March 16 permalink
Question for My Byzantine Friends on the Akathist Hymn
No, we are not "Alleluia Deniers." We keep it and use it.

Comment by CharlesW March 16 permalink
Bruce E. Ford, RIP
May his memory be eternal.

Comment by CharlesW March 4 permalink
Non-Christian Music Directors Now Approved for the Catholic Church
I have known of churches that hired total unbelievers because of their good musical abilities. That always seemed to me like being in bed with the Devil but your mileage may vary.

Comment by CharlesW March 3 permalink
Selling used Gather Book (Hymnal) 3rd edition
I always wondered why if there was a Gather hymnal, why wasn't there a Scatter hymnal for the end of mass? Like SponsaChristi's suggestion but the darn things probably wouldn't burn.

Comment by CharlesW February 27 permalink
Have you played/sung for funeral of close family member??
I have done it, too. My mother left a list of the music she wanted so maybe playing was my last gift to her. The organ was a distance away from my family members so that helped, too.

Comment by CharlesW February 10 permalink
Music for Guitar Masses?
Jesus pays my checks. It’s just the branch manager who signs on His behalf. ;-) Yeah, right ;-)

Comment by CharlesW February 10 permalink
Music for Guitar Masses?
He may get the final say, but that doesn’t mean he’s always right, unfortunately. I’ve met many priests who don’t know very much about liturgy or music, who make it up as they go. True, but it is always wise to remember whose signature is on your p…

Comment by CharlesW February 10 permalink
Music for Guitar Masses?
If in doubt, ask the pastor. If still in doubt, the pastor is always right.

Comment by CharlesW February 8 permalink
Music for Guitar Masses?
We had an electric piano in the loft. The only times we used it at mass were when the organ was broken - it happened - for weddings and for accompaniments that could not be played well on organ. During my college days, I accompanied hymns at chape…

Comment by CharlesW February 6 permalink
Music for Guitar Masses?
I actually have heard some Spanish Baroque masses where the guitar was a part of the instrumental ensemble. It functioned similarly to what a harpsichord would do in music of that era. It worked out rather well.

Comment by CharlesW February 5 permalink
Music for Guitar Masses?
I am not aware of any church documents promoting guitars at mass. Have I missed something? Pianos, either, for that matter. You can play guitar and apply it to hymns in the missal in a manner which is reverent to existing church praxis, and the …

Comment by CharlesW February 4 permalink
Music for Guitar Masses?
Take all your sacro-pop music to the parking lot. Set it on fire. Throw in the guitar for good measure. Now doesn't that warm your heart - and toes if you get too close?

Comment by CharlesW January 29 permalink
Are we winning any ground at all?
We always called it the Mass of Cremation since it was requested for so many funerals. I agree with many of the statements about the lack of music education and such. Also, so many of the younger folks are so over-committed they don't have mu…

Comment by CharlesW January 23 permalink

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Username: CharlesW
Email: chazpipesatgmaildotcom
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