FINALLY!

Some good freakin' news!

Everything (the podcast host, my internet connection) is back up and running! The Internet was restored at about 8:30 this morning, just before leaving for 9:30 Mass. The podcast hosting services were restored at about suppertime tonight.

Tomorrow I start work on our 140th episode of


On this show, we will continue our series on the lost treasure, Worship I, GIA's pioneer hymnal. Also, my son Brian has been working on a couple of top ten lists of his own. I doubt these will make it to CVA #140, as he is out with my daughter Jessica and won't be back till sometime tomorrow. Possibly for CVA #141?

So, what have you been doing in the interim?

In my spare time, reading and writing.

Reading: Well, while in the library using the Internet there every chance I get, I figured "why not pull out a couple of books?" So I picked up Thomas Day's Why Catholics Can't Sing, which I haven't read in about 15 years, to refresh myself on it. I also grabbed (for the first time) Where Have You Gone, Michelangelo? Professor Day's writing, I just recently realized, reminds me a lot of Jason's style of writing (that's a good thing, btw!). BTW, for those who already read the book, I just finished the sub-chapter on the "horse's ass".

Writing: I just finished re-working Psalm settings for the Advent and Christmas season. In fact, I have completed settings for the Sundays of Advent and all of the Christmas season.

Let us go rejoicing - 6/8 refrain with an original chant-style Psalm tone, written in the F-sharp Phrygian mode. Congregation, cantor, descant, organ. (Advent 1A and Christ the King C)
Lord, make us turn to you - 4/4 refrain with an original chant-style Psalm tone, written in E major. Congregation, cantor, descant, organ. (Advent 1B and 4C)
To you, O Lord - 4/4 refrain with an original chant-style Psalm tone. The refrain is in A minor, while the verses are in A major, yet offer a smooth transition back to the minor-key refrain. Congregation, cantor, SATB, organ. (Advent 1C)
Justice shall flourish in his time - 4/4 refrain with an original chant-style Psalm tone, written in A major. Congregation, cantor, unison, organ. (Advent 2A)
Lord, let us see your kindness - 3/2 refrain with an original chant-style Psalm tone, written in G major. In fact, for those who have heard my own Rejoice in the Lord Always on earlier CVA podcasts, the tone is exactly the same. Congregation, cantor, descant, organ. (Advent 2B, Ordinary Time 15B and 19A)
The Lord has done great things for us - 4/4 refrain with the same Psalm tone as the one for Let Us Go Rejoicing. Congregation, cantor, descant, organ. (Advent 2C, Lent 5C, and Ordinary Time 30B)
Lord, come and save us - An arrangement of Psalm Tone 8G that utilizes a choral refrain. Congregation, cantor, SATB, organ. (Advent 3A)
My soul rejoices/Magnificat - An original musical setting completely in a chant style. The refrain is in English (My soul rejoices in my God) and in Latin (Magnificat anima mea Dominum). Congregation, cantor, unison, organ. (Advent 3B)
Cry out with joy and gladness - An original setting that is completely metrical (4/4), written in a style that resembles a cross between Richard Proulx and John Rutter. Congregation, cantor, descant, organ. (Advent 3C)
Let the Lord enter - A festive arrangement of Psalm Tone 8G. The verses can be rendered by a cantor, or a choir (especially in verse 2). Congregation, cantor, descant, organ. (Advent 4A)
For ever I will sing - 4/4 refrain with the same Psalm tone as the one used for Justice Shall Flourish in His Time. Congregation, cantor, SATB, organ. (Advent 4B and Christmas Vigil - seperate verse sets. Chrism Mass and Ordinary Time 13A verses will follow.)
Today is born our Savior - 6/8 refrain with a chant-style Psalm tone. This tone is the same as another piece that I've played on podcasts before, Laetentur Caeli, which is partly original (the refrain music in Laetentur Caeli is from In Der Ist Freude - you may recognize the English title, In Thee Is Gladness - by Giovanni Gastoli). Congregation, cantor, descant, 2 trumpets, timpani, handbells, organ. Individual instrumental parts included. (Christmas Midnight Mass)
A light will shine on us this day - 4/4 refrain with a Gelineau-style Psalm tone. Congregation, cantor, descant, organ. (Christmas Mass at Dawn)
All the ends of the earth - 6/8 refrain with a chant-style Psalm tone. Congregation, cantor, descant, handbells, organ. Individual instrumental parts included. (Christmas Mass during the Day)
Blessed are those who fear the Lord - 6/8 refrain with a chant-style Psalm tone. Congregation, cantor, descant, handbells, organ. (Holy Family ABC)
The Lord remembers his covenant - A completely chant-style piece, with a chant melody in unison for the refrain, and verses that can be rendered by a cantor or in SATB. The second half of the verse is a faux-bourdon of the first half. (Holy Family Optional B)
Blessed are they who dwell - 6/8 refrain with the verses sung to Psalm Tone 8G. Congregation, cantor, descant, organ. (Holy Family Optional C)
May God bless us in his mercy - 4/4 refrain with verses sung to Psalm Tone 7a. Congregation, cantor, unison, organ. (Mary, Mother of God)
Lord, every nation on earth - 3/4 refrain with the verses sung to the Justice shall flourish Psalm Tone (after all, they're both Psalm 72). Congregation, cantor, unison, organ. (Epiphany)
The Lord will bless his people with peace - Another modern (yet suitable for Mass) setting, completely in 4/4. Congregation, cantor, descant, glockenspiel or handbells, organ. Individual instrumental parts included. (Baptism of the Lord ABC)
You will draw water joyfully - The only difference between this and Cry out with joy and gladness is the refrain. Congregation, cantor, descant, organ. (Baptism of the Lord Optional B, Easter Vigil following Reading 5, Sacred Heart B)
O bless the Lord, my soul - Psalm tone 8G, with my own organ arrangement. Congregation, cantor, unison, organ. (Baptism of the Lord Optional C)

I have set a price for most of these titles at $7.95 and $8.95. The price includes a pew edition (melody and text, refrain only), a cantor edition (melody and text, with the verses), and a score edition (organ, any and all instrumental and choral parts), as well as a license to make as many copies needed for your parish. I'm simply dubbing this The Lectionary Project. I'll also soon be working on The Graduale Project. ;)

Peace,
BMP