HAVING A BLAST!

I have to tell you, I'm having a blast at Sacred Heart! The entire Holy Week/Easter festivities went over nicely. I've gotten a number of compliments from a number of parishioners and from Father Bucci.

Thank you! --- I want to thank the brass trio (George on trumpet, Chris on flugelhorn, and Jerry on French horn) and the small choir (soprano Elaine, alto Kate, and baritone Chris) for making our music festive and beautiful. I also want to thank my wife Ann (xoxoxoxo) and an elderly parishioner whose name I haven't gotten yet for helping me insert pew cards for the Picchi Mass before the Vigil last night.

Picchi Mass? --- One of the things I had the pleasure of learning is the "Messa 'Christo Riscuciti" by Luigi Picchi (pronounced "PEE-kee"). As noted in an earlier combox, Luigi Picchi was best known for arranging the melody of St. Alphonsus Liguori of a favorite Christmas carol of Italians everywhere, "Tu Scendi della Stelle". Anyhoo, the "Christo Riscuciti" Mass is based mainly on the tune known in Latin as "Surgit in Haec Dies" or in German as "Christ Ist Erstanden", depending on which hymnal you're skimming through. We are doing the Sanctus and Agnus Dei from that Mass throughout the Easter Season. It's not a hard Mass for people to pick up at all. There are people that sing it (and mind you - it's in LATIN!). Father B. belts it out! My predecessor Dave introduced me to this Mass about a year ago. I'm fixing to learn the Gloria soon, as I will very likely program it for Easter 2012.

One of the funniest moments in my 30 years as an organist happened this very morning before the 9:00 Mass. Before the 9:00 and 11:15 Masses, the brass trio did their own prelude on "Thine Be the Glory" (melody from Handel's Judas Maccabeus). Immediately following their rendition of "Thine Be the Glory", not to be outdone, the carillon bellowed out - guess what! - "Thine Be the Glory", in the SAME KEY that the brass trio used (key of E-flat). None of us in the gallery could keep a straight face. It was just too damn funny!

My wishes to all readers for a happy and blessed Easter Season.

ALLELUIA! CHRISTUS RESURREXIT!

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS (and this past weekend's high)

Easter and the Vigil (April 23/24, 2011)
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, RI

I have to say my first weekend at Sacred Heart ended on the highest of highs since my days at Holy Name. I've gotten the most positive feedback from a priest and his flock since Fr. Fisette and the Holy Name parishioners. In June, 1999, I can remember Frank McGeharty saying to me after Mass, "I feel like I just jumped out of a Model-T Ford and into a Cadillac!" I've gotten similar comments from parishioners and from Fr. Bucci. First thing after 5:00 Mass last night, Fr. said to me, "Brian, the music was EXCELLENT!" and shook my hand.

Speaking of handshakes, I got to shake hands with our local TV weatherman before the 11:15 Mass. Yes, I had the HONOR of meeting Channel 12's Tony Petrarca this morning. Very down-to-earth man, that Tony! He really is genuine. On TV, he's the master weatherman. At Sacred Heart Church, he's just another man, just like me. Celebrities like that are a rare breed, and I wish there were more!

Oh, I discovered the Rodgers I'm playing isn't an Insignia (I originally thought it might have been - I had one at Holy Ghost, and the console was actually similar to the Insignia that's at Holy Cross in Providence, where I've covered a few times), but a Trillium (I believe the 807 - looks a lot like the current Masterpiece 234).

OK - now for next weekend's music.

Let's start with the Vigil, shall we...

the usual Lumen Christi and Exsultet
Psalms corresponding to Readings 1, 2, and 3 from Respond and Acclaim
Gloria from Mass of the Shepherds by Pietro Yon
Alleluia from Respond and Acclaim
Vidi Aquam / Mode VIII
The day of Resurrection / "Ellacombe"
Sanctus and Agnus from Messa Christo Riscusiti by Luigi Picchi (pronounced PEE-kee)
Adoro Te, O Panis Caelice / melody from Louvain
O Sacrum Convivium / Remondi
Regina Caeli / Mode VI
Jesus Christ Is ris'n today / "Easter Hymn"

Now, Easter Sunday...

The day of Resurrection / "Ellacombe"
Gloria from Mass in Honor of Pope Paul VI by Edward Connor (7:30 0nly)
Gloria from Mass of the Shepherds by Pietro Yon (9:00 and 11:15)
This is the day (Psalm 118) from Respond and Acclaim
Christians, to the Paschal Victim (sequence in English) / chant from Roman Missal
Vidi Aquam / Mode VIII
That Easter Day with joy was bright / "Puer Nobis"
Remainder same as Vigil

Peace,
BMP

DON'T DO THIS AT CHURCH

Blog edition!

RSCT to Rich at Catholic Lite, who sent me via e-mail this example of what NOT to do at church. This is NOT for the faint of heart. This is more or less a blatant thrashing of the Exsultet, and published by guess who.

Peace,
BMP

ALLELUIA! CHRIST IS RISEN!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Happy and blessed Easter everyone!
Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

St. John the Baptist Church, Pawtucket, RI
Easter Sunday - March 23, 2008



Back to my usual stomping grounds when I'm not at the console. On the most part, a very good hymn selection.

Jesus Christ is ris'n today..."Easter Hymn"
This is the day the Lord has made...Alstott
(Somehow the sequence got skipped.)
Celtic Alleluia...O'Carroll/Walker
Join in the dance...Schutte (Not the greatest piece, but Paul did a good job of making it sound like a hymn)
Sanctus/Memorial/Amen...Haugen/Creation (Paul busted my chops after Mass, saying "I was thinking of you when I played the Holy. I know how you just LOVE Mass of Cremation." I then corrected him and said, "No, Paul. It's MASSIVE Creamation." Both of us had a good laugh.)
Agnus XVIII (a cappella) - I was pleasantly surprised to hear this there.
Three Days..."Thaxted"
Jesus is risen..."Lasst uns Erfreuen"

Peace,
BMP

HAPPY AND BLESSED AND EASTER

...to all our readers here, and to all our listeners at Christus Vincit ANYWHERE! and to our viewers at Christus Vincit TV.

Now, of course we know the true meaning of Easter is our Lord and Savior, who willingly died for us, taking the fall for the sin of mankind, rising on the third day.

On a note from the secular side, here's a video of some egg abuse. My wife sent me this one. You'll have to click the link for this one. I didn't see any "embed" code anywhere on this one. Stupid Yahoo Tricks, I guess. :)

UPDATE 3/23/08: If you go on that screen and scroll down a little bit, you'll find one called Los Angeles in 3 Minutes. As this particular video seemingly promotes the beauty of Los Angeles, you'll notice that the TajMahony was not included here.

Enjoy!
Peace,
BMP

CHRISTUS VINCIT ANYWHERE! 76

You can listen below, or save the file by clicking here. (1:09:41/63.8 MB)

Today we're a day late, but not because of the computer this time. It's been one busy weekend, so not much got done. Many of the segments were recorded yesterday, and the dates given reflect that. We landed up moving choir rehearsal from today to yesterday this week (normally we rehearse on Tuesday nights), as we have our Confirmation Mass tonight. Plus, I got to see my daughter in a play yesterday in her afterschool drama club. She really did me proud, like all my kids do!

Feasts for the week: Monday-Saturday in the Octave of Easter.
For more information, see the New Advent Website.

Christus Vincit Semi-Live in the living room: Extensive coverage of our Easter Triduum music.

Music:
Our Blessing Cup (antiphon only) (written by yours truly); Ubi Caritas (Chant, Mode VI);
Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart); Pange Lingua Gloriosi (Chant, Mode III)
Father, into Your Hands (written by yours truly)
Sing, My Tongue, the Savior's Glory (Fortunatus/Neale text; Chant, Mode III)
O Sacred Head, Surrounded (tune: Passion Chorale)
Were You There (Spiritual, arranged by yours truly); Gloria (from Missa de Angelis)
Alleluia for the Easter Vigil (from O Filii et Filiae; Chant, Mode II; adapted by yours truly)
Jesus Christ Is Ris'n Today (tune: Easter Hymn); Ye Sons and Daughters (Chant, Mode II)
Alleluia, Alleluia, Let the Holy Anthem Rise (American, anon.)
Sing with All the Saints in Glory (tune: Hymn to Joy); Hallelujah (Handel, from Messiah)

Commercials: iPadre Podcasting Network, Disciples with Microphones
Shamus' Adventures in Classical Latin: Victimae Paschali Laudes, courtesy of FootWashing 2000.
Additional Link: Holy Ghost Church

CVA Interactive Corner

Easter Triumph!

And now, every organist, cantor, chorister, liturgical minister, bishop, priest, and deacon can join together and sing that great Easter hymn....


THE STRIFE IS O'ER, THE BATTLE DONE!


As our Eastern brethren say, "Christos Voskres!" (Christ is Risen!)
(in Cyrillic, "Xpuctoc Bockpec!")

~nb, who is going home to collapse...

EASTER GO BYE BYE

in Tiverton Public Schools, that is!

Can you believe that one??? Yeah!!!

My parish is in Tiverton. Of course, the bright side to working in a Catholic parish is that Easter can NEVER be banned. In fact, it's REQUIRED!

Public schools in Tiverton in the US state of Rhode Island have banned the word "Easter" at all school events and children will now have their photos taken with Peter Rabbit instead of the Easter Bunny. (And what the sam hell makes a produce thief more appropriate than the Easter Bunny?)
The US Catholic League reports that William Rearick, Schools Superintendent of the Tiverton Public Schools in Rhode Island, has banned the Easter Bunny from appearing at a fundraising event tomorrow at the Tiverton Middle School. (So, when the produce thief comes to town, let's switch scripts so he gets the entire student body hyped up for Easter.)
He has also banned the word "Easter" from all school events. He told the Providence Journal that during the last year and a half, he has become "more aware of folks who don't have a Christian background." (You mean Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and even atheists can have their holidays, but Christians can't? But that's dis-I say-that's discrimination, boy!)
Taking the place of the Easter Bunny will be Peter Rabbit, the Catholic League says, and children will be able to get their picture taken with him. (Oh nice! A mug with a thug!)
But League president Bill Donohue described it as "unconscionable that in this day and age Superintendent Rearick would choose to honour a thief".
"As every schoolchild knows, Peter Rabbit stole from Mr McGregor's garden," Donohue said.
"To now hold him up as a role model to impressionable youngsters sends the wrong signal. At the very least, grief counsellors should be dispatched to tomorrow's event." (Someone, I say, someone, put the fear of God in that rabbit, will ya?!)
"There is also a more serious matter going on. The event smacks of sexism: Peter Rabbit had three sisters - Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail - and there is no historical record of them ever having committed a crime. So why were they passed over? Looks like the glass ceiling is still in place." (More discrimination - and the three sisters were clean, at least to common knowledge.)
Commenting on School Superintendent Rearick's concern not to offend other religions, Donhue said he was "astonished" that Rearick "only recently discovered Jews and Muslims".
"But better late than never. However, it was not a Jew or a Muslim who complained about the Easter Bunny - it was an ex-Catholic, Michael Burk; he is vice chairman of the school committee. No matter, I have news for Superintendent Rearick: he has not resolved the problem. (An "ex-Catholic". And what did the Easter Bunny do to piss him off? Or, even better, what did Holy Mother Church do to piss him off? Preach the truth? Ah, but can he handle the truth?)

Source

Red Sox cap tip to Fr. Gonzales

On my way back from the rectory Thursday, I think I'll rent a megaphone, drive by the Tiverton School Administration building or whatever they call the head-honcho-quarters at about two miles an hour and yell out:
DEAR MR. BURK, MAY THE PEACE OF THE RISEN CHRIST BE WITH YOU THIS EASTER, AND MAY THE EASTER BUNNY GIVE YOU LOTS OF CHOCOLATES!

Peace,
BMP

HAEC DIES QUAM FECIT DOMINUS

This is the day that the Lord has made!
Let us rejoice and be glad!

Best wishes to all our readers and their families for a Happy and Blessed Easter!

+In Christ,
Your Christus Vincit Team,
Brian, Nick, and Jason
(often known as BMP, ~nb, and JP)