CHRISTUS VINCIT ANYWHERE! 66

You can listen below, or save the file by clicking here. (35:58/32.9 MB)

Get your kicks on episode 66!
We discuss Alexander Peloquin (pictured), the man and his music.

Feasts for the Week:
St. John Bosco; Presentation of the Lord; St. Blase; St. Ansgar.
For more info: New Advent Website

Christus Vincit Semi-Live on I-195: Premiere segment, recorded primarily while on Interstate 195, with Shamus standing by in the studio with a couple of forgotten pieces. Here we cover the music we played for the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time.

Music:
Ecce Dominus Noster (Mode III); Lumen Revelationem Gentium (Mode VIII)
Sanctus, Mortem Tuam Annuntiamus, Amen, and Agnus Dei (Jubilate Deo chant set)
The Lord's Prayer (chant in English; intoned by the iPadre himself)
Now Thank We All Our God (tune: Nun Danket); Illumina Faciem Tuam (Mode I)
Sonata X, written by Andreas Oswald, performed by Chelycus, courtesy of Podsafe

Commercials:
Catholic: Under the Hood (Congrats, Fr. Seraphim, on 100 episodes!!!),
iPadre Podcasting Network, Disciples with Microphones

Liturgy 911: Papa Joe Ratzi and Frank A. Rinze hunt down eulogies at funeral Masses.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Eulogies Edition, courtesy of Catholic Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Go to our message forum and take the poll in the Episode #66 category.
Closing notes: February 1 is a milestone for my wife and me!

CVA Interactive Corner

A FAVORITE OLD QUOTE

This from the late C. Alexander Peloquin (1918-1997), printed in a magazine in 1981:

If the music is good and the spoken word is bad, it's a concert.
If the spoken word is good and the music is bad, it's a talk show.

Peace,
BMP

SOME BLASTS FROM THE PAST DISCOVERED

Somewhere along the line, the guy upstairs from me found some old music and left it in front of my door in a decent sized box just the other day. I've yet to see him to thank him (and find out just where he got all this stuff, as he isn't a musician, but knows I am), but I did go through the box and sort out my keepers:

Standard Gregorian Chants, McLaughlin and Reilly
Improving Music Reading in the Choral Rehearsal, by Lara G. Hoggard (1947)
Wedding Music (Vol. 1), Carlo Rossini/J. Fischer and Bro. (what's nice is nothing is titled, just the key signature is noted - so much of this could probably pass for any old prelude or postlude)
Fantasie on Dies Irae, for organ - by Francis W. Snow/Boston Music Co.
Eight Short Preludes for Organ, Albert J. Dooner/GIA (1956, back when they were known as the Gregorian Institute of America)
Ave Maria, A.H. RoSewig/J. Fischer and Bro. (this is the lower key version)
Graduel Paroissial, the accompaniment of the Mass chants (Advent through Holy Week) (1933, all titles and instruction are in French)
Seven Last Words of Christ, Theodore Dubois (replaces the one I lost in the infamous Pawtucket Mill Fire 11/14/03)
The Liturgical Organist, Carlo Rossini (Volume 1)
Suite d'Orgue, F. de La Tombelle (1911 copyright date - all instruction and titles are in French, the copyright notice is the only thing in English)
Fifth Symphony, Charles Marie Widor
Pieces d'Orgue, Dom Paul Benoit
Fifty Elevations for Organ on Modal Themes, also by Benoit
Anthologia pro Organo I, Schott Freres
The Technic of the Baton, Albert Stoessel (1928)

I am not parting with any of the above!
Now, here's something else I'm not parting with from that box - I have some old issues of a periodical called CAECILIA. These are dated in the 1950's. I have here:
July/August 1952 (with music supplement)
September/October 1954 (with music supplement)
January/February 1955 (with music supplement)
March/April 1955 (with music supplement - cool early article on Alexander Peloquin in this one)
September/October 1955 (with music supplement)
September/October 1956 (music supplement only)
Spring 1959
Summer 1959
(the 1959 issues didn't include any music)
The music in these were published (on the most part) by McLaughlin and Reilly, including some early work by Alex Peloquin, John Lee, and Joseph J. McGrath. Much of the Peloquin work in these issues got a Nihil Obstat by Fr. Norman LeBoeuf, who headed the then-Gregorian School of Providence, and an Imprimatur by the late Most Rev. Russell J. McVinney, then-Bishop of Providence. Peloquin was a teacher and lecturer at the Gregorian School, via invite by Father LeBoeuf. The school was open for organists and choir directors of the Diocese of Providence.

Gregorian School! Those were the good old days. The Gregorian School's been gone for quite some time (Fr. LeBoeuf passed in 1984, Dr. Peloquin in 1997). Now it's guitar schools and ensemble schools. (YUK!)

Peace,
BMP

RADIATING CHRIST - a review

One of the best composers of Catholic music since Vatican II (in my opinion at least) is Dr. C. Alexander Peloquin. Those who appreciate his music owe it to themselves to grab the latest CD of his music: Radiating Christ.

The music was performed by the Gregorian Concert Choir and Orchestra, conducted by Peloquin's successor, Fr. Anthony Mancini, at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Providence, RI. Since Peloquin retired in 1991, Fr. Mancini was hand-picked by Peloquin himself to be the heir to the baton. In 2004, Fr. Mancini was also appointed as Cathedral rector.

There are 18 well-performed tracks on this CD.
A Prayer for Us - an epic piece based on the passage from St. Paul's letter to the Romans, O the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God, with two narrations in between. The piece ends with a rousing rendition of America, the Beautiful.
Gloria of the Bells - the timeless classic. We still use it regularly at Holy Ghost.
Faith, Hope, and Love - the beautifully-written Communion Hymn from his Lyric Liturgy. The verses, taken from the Grail, are from Psalm 136.
Lord Jesus, Come - the Introit Hymn, also from his Lyric Liturgy. The verses are from Psalm 100.
The Good Shepherd - the tune set for the Fred Kaan-penned text Jesus, Shepherd of Our Souls. This version is arranged with harp. The hymn itself can be found in Worship - Third Edition (hymn #649).
If Today You Hear His Voice - This is the setting I use most when I need Psalm 95. Another gem!
People Matter - a rather jazzy (in a Peloquin sort of way) setting to another Fred Kaan text, Sing We of the Modern City.
Communion Rite from Unless You Become - consists of the Lord's Prayer and Agnus Dei
For Your Love's Sake
I Cieli Immensi - a well-crafted choral arrangement of the masterpiece by Benedetto Marcello
Prayer of Self-Offering - based on a prayer by St. Ignatius (Lord, I freely give all my liberty to you), and incorporates a mysterious rendition of the Mode VI Ubi Caritas.
Joy - a rather syncopated organ piece showing Alex's true colors
Now in the Name of Him
Today is Born Our Savior - a lovely setting, not heavy at all, of the Psalm appointed for Midnight Mass at Christmas.
Wedding Song
I Believe that My Redeemer Lives - the Committal Hymn for the Funeral Mass. Nicely done in four parts, though also great as a soprano or tenor solo.
Ave Verum Corpus - an unpublished piece once commissioned for an Anniversary Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Providence. Lovely antiphon which incorporates the chant Ave Verum as its verses.
Radiating Christ - the title song; a mystical piece based on a prayer by John Henry Cardinal Newman.

This CD is available at GIA Publications. Get'em while they're hot!

+In Christ,
BMP