Category Archives: Liturgical Music

When Worship Ends

Posted on 19 September 2016 by

I saw this essay linked on CMAA’s forum, and a discussion there ensued. I can’t speak for the details and rubrics of Methodist worship. I do know that many church musicians have a certain understanding of tradition, denominational or local. Sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgical Music | 9 Comments

The Armchair Liturgist: Blessing New Hymnals

Posted on 26 August 2016 by

How do new hymnals in a parish get introduced? Fund-raising campaign? Negotiation with the finance committee? Your people come to Mass one weekend, and surprise! New books. Some of you may know the Book of Blessings provides for the blessing … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgical Music, Scripture, The Armchair Liturgist | 2 Comments

Summer Common Psalms

Posted on 3 August 2016 by

One of my parish’s better singers wrote to me about the high(er) bar I’ve placed on psalmists, and it’s continued through June and July: I know I have struggled with several this summer, and I’ve watched other cantors have trouble as … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgical Music, Liturgy | 2 Comments

Sunday Mass Without Music

Posted on 30 July 2016 by

Pondering that (usually early) Sunday Mass without music, I was thinking back to the parishes I’ve served over the years. My first parish had music at the 8AM Mass, even the Gloria. But the repertoire was basic, and generally different … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgical Music, Liturgy | 5 Comments

Planning Ahead

Posted on 30 June 2016 by

Yesterday I started looking at music planning for the coming Fall. Before I got to work, it had only Mass settings and Psalm assignments in the grid. As of quitting time last night, it had a few ideas. Charles will … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgical Music | 10 Comments

Worship, Third, Points of View III

Posted on 26 June 2016 by

The third edition of Worship might have been the number one organ hymnal for Catholics for an entire generation. I’ll bring this series to a close here, I think. I looked at the next 25 texts, numbers 552 through 577 … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgical Music | Tagged | 6 Comments

Worship, Third, Points of View II

Posted on 21 June 2016 by

I noticed CMAA is onto this series, at least the first post. Their opinions in a growing thread there: This is a strange conversation. Yea, even bizarre! Largely agreed. And then there’s: Troll by proxy Indeed. They sure spent more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Liturgical Music | Tagged | 4 Comments