MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS (Cross Edition)

Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time - August 29, 2011
Sacred Heart Church, West Warwick, Rhode Island

This particular Sunday I remember ever so perfectly - from about six years ago. Two of the hymns that I'm doing this Sunday, I did on August 28, 2005 at the Geistkirche. They were "Take up your cross" and "Lift high the cross" (I also had "Keep in mind" and "There's a wideness" that weekend). After the anticipated Mass, the visiting priest squeaked "I felt like I was in Lent!" The priest in question is a well-known guitar-strummin' priest from the national shrine just minutes from where I live, and his brand of music sounds so... sixties! Local readers probably know EXACTLY of whom I speak. :)

Fast forward to August 29, 2011 at Sacred Heart, where good music and good liturgy is actually appreciated!

HYMNS:
E: Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates - "Truro"
O: Take up your cross, the Savior said - "O Jesu, Mi Dulcissime"
M: When I survey the wondrous cross - "Rockingham"
R: Lift high the cross - "Crucifer"

MASS:
Psalm 63: My soul is thirsting for you - Weber
Alleluia: Mode VI (Verse: Tone 6F)
Eucharist: People's/Danish

Communion anthem: In the cross of Christ I glory - "Charlestown", arr. BMP

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Epiphany (Ordinary Form) - January 4, 2009
Holy Ghost Church, Providence, RI

No, not the Holy Ghost I used to work for!

This Holy Ghost is a parish run by the Missionaries of St. Charles, aka the Scalabrini Fathers. They still have a Mass in Italian each Sunday (as well as one in Spanish).

In late August of 2004, I filled in for the 9:00 English Mass and the 11:00 Italian Mass for George Mancini, the current music director at Holy Ghost. It was the first and only time I ever played an Italian Mass. The organ is a Wicks, augmented by Rodgers (added digital ranks and three-manual console). This organ is fun to play. The only sucky part is having to tune the digital ranks to the pipes on a hot day (the church has no air conditioning, and it was about 90 degrees by 11 AM on the day I played).

This morning I attended the 9 AM Mass in English. Here's the music list for today:

English carol...The first Nowell
Gloria...Mancini (a through composed Gloria that George wrote himself - well written!)
Haugen D'hass...All the ends of the earth
- (NOTE: The actual proper of the day, Ps. 72, is also the seasonal for Epiphany, not Ps. 98.)
Walker/O'Carroll...Celtic Alleluia
Kings of Orient...We three kings of Orient are
- (NOTE: The music during the Liturgy of the Eucharist is stuff I would have avoided.)
Dufford/Schutte...Sanctus and Amen
Adeste Fideles...O come, let us adore him (NOT a memorial acclamation)
Olawski...Agnus
Greensleeves...What child is this
Mendelssohn...Hark! the herald angels sing!

Peace,
BMP

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

Or, NOVEMBER 15, 2007 REVISITED!



OK, how do I caption this: my arse on a platter, or a new way of saying "you're fired?"
RSCT to Sir Monacle.

Peace,
BMP

IT'S TOO LOUD!

Man, this really hits home! Got this from Lyn F., the Organ-ic Chemist, via e-mail this evening. This reminds me of the alleged reason that I was sacked on 11/15/07. Enjoy!
Peace,
BMP

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"TURN - IT - DOWN!!!"
Charles Richard Lester

More often than not, the person who chronically complains that the organ is too loud is the same person who complains that the sermon is too long (or too short), the temperature too hot (or too cold), the pews too hard (or too soft), there are too many hymns (or not enough of them), the cookies at the after-church social hour are the wrong kind, etc. etc. etc.

And this type of socially dysfunctional person ["Does not play well in groups"] fully expects that by expressing their "humble opinion," their complaint will not only be heard but acquiesced to.

DON'T DO IT. Or you will be forever sorry.

It's the old "give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile" cliché.

Take a garden-variety compulsive griper, stir in a pinch of "Control Issues," and you have your typical Church Complainer.

I too have "been dere, done dat." I too have learned to just smile nicely, thank the complainer for his/her input, then do nothing. UNLESS, of course, the complainer is the pastor, choir director, or some other authority figure. Other than that, I simply "file the complaint in the circular filing cabinet" and am done with it.

Arrogant? Perhaps. But decades of experience sometimes do bring along a bit of arrogance, of the educated variety.

I'll never forget one church in particular where there was this grumpy old man who EVERY SUNDAY would come charging down the aisle during the postlude with his fingers in his ears, loudly belly-aching that the organ was too loud. One Sunday he apparently was having a particularly bad day (had not gotten his way elsewhere, most likely): He charged down to the front of the chancel and bellowed to me at the top of his lungs,"TURN - IT - DOWN!!!"

Shocked, I stopped playing. What else could I do?

There was a moment of stunned silence; all eyes were trained on the man who just stood there, red-faced and quivering with rage.

I shut off the organ, pulled down the roll-top, took off my robe, changed my shoes, and left.

That afternoon the pastor called me and we had a long talk. I told him if he did not tell that man to stop harassing me, I was going to resign. The following Sunday, the man, meek as a little lamb, kept his distance- although glowering at me from afar. I was just waiting for him to stick his fingers in his ears but he knew he did not dare.

An extreme case, perhaps, but illustrative of the sort of person you are usually dealing with in a chronic complainer. They just want to get their way and will go to extraordinary lengths to that end. (BMP's note: in the case of my former parish, that would be either the complainer either leaving the parish or at least cutting his/her weekly budget donation substantially, and then "blaming the music". The old lesson to that is the same as the one in politics I used to hear the when my father made an unsuccessful bid for a city council seat back in the mid '70's - "Money talks and bullshit walks.")

AUF WIEDERSEHEN, HEILEGE GEIST

At this time, I am no longer the music director at Holy Ghost Church. I was let go this morning. I don't completely blame the pastor. I do, however, feel that he's acting upon great pressure from a good amount of parishioners who have nothing better to do than desire to have my arse on a silver platter no matter what I do. I do thank the many who have also supported me over the three years I faithfully served there.

Blogging will be light, and podcasting late, but not for that reason. My computer is being examined by the good ole "Geek Squad" at Best Buy. So, once that's back, things will be regular again, I hope.

In the meantime, I am still doing the Extraordinary Form of the Mass at St. Leo's this Sunday. I'll also be working freelance - any funerals I can get where an organist and/or cantor is unavailable elsewhere.

Please pray for me. Also please rest assured I don't give up that easily, especially when it's a job that is really a labor of love. My job is not done - just at Holy Ghost.

Peace,
BMP

UPDATE 11:00 PM EST 11/15/07: I have my first lead already. I got a return call from a pastor of a Roman Catholic parish in Washington County, RI. In case any locals are reading I'm going to hold off on revealing that lead until something is affirmative. I'm going to one of the Masses this Sunday to check things out, then very likely hand deliver my resume to the pastor. I also have resumes sent out to a parish in Norfolk County, MA, and one in South Carolina. Thanks much for the encouragement already received in the combox. -BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sunday XXXII of Ordinary Time - November 11, 2007
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing..."Kremser"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
Lord, when your glory appears...Ostrowski
Alleluia...Murray
You satisfy the hungry heart..."Bicentennial"
Community Mass...Proulx
Lord's Prayer (English)...Chant
My shepherd is the Lord...Gelineau
Praise the Lord, ye heav'ns, adore him..."Hymn to Joy"

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI
All Saints (7 PM) - November 1, 2007

For all the saints..."Sine Nomine"
Lord, this is the people...Carroll/Gelineau
God, we praise you..."Nettleton"
Remember, Lord, thy servants...Page
Ye watchers and ye holy ones..."Lasst uns Erfreuen"

Sunday XXXI in Ordinary Time - November 4, 2007

There's a wideness in God's mercy..."In Babilone"
I will praise your name for ever...Page
I heard the voice of Jesus say..."Kingsfold"
Eat this Bread...Batastini/Berthier
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven..."Lauda Anima"

Music common to both feasts

Gloria VIII...Mode V
Alleluia...Murray
Community Mass...Proulx
Lord's Prayer (in English)...Chant

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sunday XXX in Ordinary Time - October 28, 2007
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI

Our 10:00 Mass this coming Sunday will be interpreted in sign language. The music will be the same for all three Masses. Celebrant for the sign language Mass will be Fr. Joseph Bruce, SJ. So this will be two firsts for me - my first sign language Mass, and the first Mass (that I recall anyways) that I'll have done with a Jesuit.

Anyhoo - my list for this week:

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven..."Lauda Anima"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
The Lord hears the cry of the poor...Ostrowski
Alleluia...Mode VI
O breathe on me, O breath of God..."St. Columba"
Jubliate Deo...chants
Lord's Prayer (in English)...chant
This is the feast of victory for our God..."Festival Canticle"
Faith of our fathers, living still..."St. Catherine"

As for the Latin chants, the person who will be doing the sign language has been informed and will sign according to the English translations. This should be interesting - not necessarily in a bad way.
Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, Rhode Island
Sunday XXIX in Ordinary Time - October 21, 2007

O God, our help in ages past..."St. Anne"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
Our help is from the Lord...Guimont
Alleluia...Murray
For the beauty of the earth..."Dix"
Community Mass...Proulx
Lord's Prayer/in English...chant
You satisfy the hungry heart..."Bicentennial"
Alleluia! sing to Jesus..."Hyfrydol"

I may get to post the music for the Traditional Latin Mass at St. Leo's (Sunday XXI after Pentecost) before it happens. Yours truly *might* be at the console. Currently their parish organist is in the hospital. Whether or not she recovers soon enough will determine whether or not I'll be playing.

Peace,
BMP

EXTRAORDINARY FORM IN TIVERTON, RHODE ISLAND

Albeit a one-time thing for now

On December 8, 2007, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, I will be playing for Holy Mass in its Extraordinary Form at noon at Holy Ghost. This special noon Mass, which is in part for the Little Flower Home (right across the street from the rectory), is being celebrated by Archbishop George Pearce, Archbishop Emeritus of Suva (Fiji Islands). Some may recognize the name of the good Archbishop from his work with the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

This will be Low Mass with hymns (I was hoping for High Mass; hey, I tried). I will have a final program up in due time. Very likely the opening and closing will be in English. Most definitely the offertory and Communion hymns will be in Latin. I do recall that those middle hymns can be sung in English in a Low Mass, but I normally program Latin just to be in the good habit of things (after all - in High Mass, said music during offertory and Communion must be in Latin, and can only be done in addition to, not in place of, the chanted proper).

This will be my first Traditional Latin Mass at the console in over four years.
Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sunday XXVIII - October 14, 2007
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI

All creatures of our God and King..."Lasst uns Erfreuen"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
The Lord has revealed to the nations...Tone 8G
Alleluia...Murray (Verse: tone 8G)
There's a wideness in God's mercy..."In Babilone"
Community Mass...Proulx
Lord's Prayer (English)...chant
My Shepherd is the Lord...Gelineau
Ave Maria/As I kneel before you...Parkinson
Holy God, we praise thy name...Grosser Gott

The choir landed up singing two Masses this weekend. Yesterday's 4:30 Mass ended with a Marian procession. In today's 10:00 Mass, four women were received as lay Dominicans (two of them are choir members). Before Mass yesterday, I had the honor of meeting podcasters extraordinaire Greg Willits of Rosary Army and That Catholic Show fame (he came to Holy Ghost to present a rosary making workshop) and George Leite of Going Fourth and Catholic Rockers fame.

I did promise Greg that I'd put a prayer request in for him and his wife (and co-host) Jennifer, as she recently lost a baby in her second month of pregnancy. The Willits family is in my prayers.

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sunday XXVII - October 7, 2007
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, Rhode Island

The Saturday Mass will end with a Marian procession.

I sing the mighty pow'r of God..."Ellacombe"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
If today you hear his voice...Peloquin
Alleluia...Murray
Lord of all hopefulness..."Slane"
Community Mass...Proulx
Lord's Prayer (in English)...chant
(Sunday) Lord, who at thy first Eucharist did pray..."Unde et Memores"
(Saturday) The Worship of God in Nature...Beethoven
Ave Maria/As I Kneel before You...Parkinson
- (Saturday as part of Marian procession, Sunday as meditation)
(Saturday) Fatima Ave (Marian procession)
(Sunday) Now thank we all our God..."Nun Danket" (recessional)

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sunday XXVI - September 30, 2007
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, Rhode Island

There's a wideness in God's mercy..."In Babilone"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
Praise the Lord, my soul...Proulx/Gelineau
Alleluia...Mode VI/verses: Tone 6f
Praise, my soul, the king of heaven..."Lauda Anima"
Jubilate Deo (Sanc/Mem/Amen/Ag)...Chants
Lord's Prayer (in English)...Chant
(exc. 10:30) Lord, you give the great commission..."Abbot's Leigh"
(10:30 only) O sacrum convivium...Remondi
Faith of our fathers, living still..."St. Catherine"

Peace,
BMP

CHORAL WEDDING THIS SATURDAY

September 22, 2007 - 2 PM
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI

This will be the second wedding at Holy Ghost where the choir will be singing (under my direction anyways). Last year, two of our choir members got married (Mike and Christina). Sadly, they moved to Maine after, but I'm very happy for them. Mike was the only one from my predecessor's choir that stayed on under my baton, even with people calling him a traitor - and he did very well with us. The following year, his now-wife joined as well. Wonderful people, sadly missed.

This time around, the nephew of two of our sopranos (Maria and Ana) is getting married. What's nice is that they're doing a Marian Consecration in lieu of that tacky "candle ceremony". We're doing Latin ordinary, mainly because of the Portuguese folk that will be in attendance that aren't too fluent in English. Here's the program:

The Prince of Denmark's March...Clarke
- (often attributed as "Trumpet Voluntary...Purcell")
O blessed are those who fear the Lord...Gelineau
Alleluia...Murray
Ave Maria/As I kneel before you...Parkinson
Panis Angelicus...Franck
Jubilate Deo (Sanctus/Memorial/Amen/Agnus)...chants
Ave Verum...Mozart
Trumpet Tune...Purcell

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sunday XXV - September 23, 2007
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, Rhode Island

Hail, Redeemer, King divine..."St. George's Windsor"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor...Ostrowski
Alleluia...Murray; verse: tone 8G
Godhead, here in hiding...Adoro Te Devote
Community Mass: Sanctus, Memorial, Amen, Agnus...Proulx
Lord's Prayer (in English)...Chant
You satisfy the hungry heart...Bicentennial
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow...Old Hundredth

The Psalm for this week and for last week come from the Chabanel Responsorial Psalm Project by Jeff Ostrowski. Well-written antiphons with Psalm tones for verses, and the texts are faithful to the Lectionary. Throw out Singing the Psalms! Deep-six Celebration Series! Mr. Ostrowski is the cat who knows where it's at when it comes to singing the Mass.

Peace,
BMP

BIG NAME GUESTS AT HOLY GHOST LATELY

Just a week ago, I got to meet Rich over at Catholic Light.

This Saturday just past, Holy Ghost Church was host for A Day with Scott Hahn. Yes - Dr. Scott Hahn came over, and drew quite the turnout. I didn't get to see him - I landed up covering a funeral that morning at St. Thomas More Church in Narragansett, just minutes from the renowned Scarborough Beach. The 1872 Hook and Hastings tracker organ (II/11-ish) is in great shape for its age, though I thought the bench was a little wobbly. But it was also that afternoon that I landed up rushing Ann to Miriam Hospital (the same hospital I was in just two weeks ago). Anyhoo - many who came to see Dr. Hahn also stuck around for 4:30 Mass that afternoon, and these people RAISED THE ROOF! I don't remember when I've heard such bold and vigorous singing at Holy Ghost, or any other parish I've ever stepped foot in. All I could say was... WOW!

On October 6, we'll have another big name - podcaster extraordinaire Greg Willits, who, with his wife Jennifer, hosts and produces the Rosary Army Podcast and That Catholic Show. The topic at hand? Sure enough - rosary making. Rosary Army - make them, pray them, give them away!

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sunday XXIV of Ordinary Time - September 16, 2007

Lift high the cross..."Crucifer"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
I will rise and go to my father...Ostrowski
Alleluia...Murray
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound..."New Britain"
Community Mass (Sanctus, Memorial, Amen, Agnus)...Proulx
Lord's Prayer (English)...Chant
Our blessing cup...Page
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee..."Hymn to Joy"

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Sunday XXIII - September 9, 2007
Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI

O God, our help in ages past..."St. Anne"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
In every age, O Lord...Tone 8G
Alleluia...Murray/verse to Tone 8G
Take up your cross, the Savior said..."Erhalt uns, Herr"
People's Mass (Sanctus)...Vermulst
Community Mass (Memorial, Amen, Agnus)...Proulx
The Lord's Prayer (in English)...Chant
As the deer longs for flowing streams..."O Waly Waly"
At the name of Jesus..."King's Weston"

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI
Sunday XXII - September 1-2, 2008

There's a wideness in God's mercy..."In Babilone"
Gloria VIII...Mode V
God, in your goodness, you have made a home...Tone 8G
Alleluia...Murray (verse: Tone 8G)
For the healing of the nations...St. Thomas
Sanctus and Agnus..."People's Mass" (Vermulst)
Memorial and Amen..."Community Mass" (Proulx)
The Lord's Prayer (in English)...Chant
Magnificat...refrain: Croatian source; verses: Tone 7
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven...Lauda Anima

Peace,
BMP

MUSIC FOR HOLY MASS

Holy Ghost Church, Tiverton, RI
Dominica Vicesima Prima per Annum - August 26, 2007

Gloria, Sanctus, Memorial, Amen, and Agnus from Jubilate Deo
Go out to all the world and tell the good news - Tone 8G
Mode VI Alleluia (verse - Tone 6F)
Chant Lord's Prayer in English

OLD HUNDREDTH - All people that on earth do dwell
SLANE - Be thou my vision
Berthier - Eat this Bread
NUN DANKET - Now thank we all our God

Peace,
BMP