NAPALM DOES IT AGAIN

RSCT to our NLM friend Jeffrey Tucker.

Pastoral Music, the official cat box liner of NaPalM, is promoting liturgical ensembles in the mag's most recent issue. Of course, here is their idea of liturgical ensembles:

The cover has a flute player in a jeans jacket playing next to two cellists in front of a youth choir. Page 14 has a guitar player with a conga player. Page 17 has two guitar players and a conga player. Page 18 features a guitar player. Page 22 has three bongo players. Page 24 has two flute players with a recorder player in front of a youth choir. Page 26 has a cellist and a violinist. Page 27 has a string bass player plucking his instrument. Page 28 has two guitar players with singers crowded around microphones. Page 31 has a pianist with a clarinetist, two flute players, a violist, and a trumpet player. Page 33 shows another flute player. Page 34 has two guitar players. Page 38 has two guitar players with a recorder player and two singers. Page 52 has a cantor in the "touchdown" position.

I think the "touchdown position" line is hilarious. I'm LMAO here!

OK, where the hell is the organ with any of this? Yeah, I'm talking about the "king of instruments", the instrument that the Second Vatican Council stated very clearly is "to be held in high esteem", doncha know?

Also in said issue are "excerpts" from Pope Pius XII's document Mediator Dei. I haven't seen the article, but Jeffrey mentions that the excerpts selected were agenda driven. Why am I NOT surprised? After all, this is NaPalM that we're talking about here.

Jeffrey writes:
But this sort of editorial manipulation really has no place in materials that are distributed with the stated goal of helping Church musicians do what the Church intends.

You and I both know that. I'm sure they do too. But do they care? Nah! People on their message boards will simply refer to Vatican authority figures as "clueless". I was on the boards from 1998 to 2006 (with a brief boot in late 2003-mid 2004). I've seen these things happen.

Kudos to Mr. Tucker for yet another excellent take!
Peace,
BMP

LAST NIGHT...

...was the first time this week I got home from the new job BEFORE 10 PM (not counting Monday, which was a three-hour paperwork/video watching day). And my day starts at the depot at 9:30 AM. How's that for short mornings and short evenings, eh?

CVA #143 is in the works and should be up over the weekend - probably by Sunday night if all goes right. Feature topic: singing from the organ console. Stay tuned!

Peace,
BMP

CATHOLIC CARNIVAL 186

...is up and running at Ebeth's place.

Both takes on the new Mass translation (mine and Jason's) are featured at the Carnival.
Enjoy!
Peace,
BMP

Feast Day of the Assumption of the BVM

Last Thursday and Friday, I was at the console of the Cathedral of St. John here in Lafayette for the feast of the Assumption. I was subbing for my colleague on those days. The feast day is a big deal (or should be) most everywhere, but down here in South Louisiana it's an even bigger deal, since Our Lady of the Assumption is the patroness of the Acadian Peoples. Back when I was organist under Bishop Provost, this fact was always made very clear both from the pulpit and in the bulletin. And it was absolutely de rigeur that the music of the French Royal Chapel should dominate the day's music list. Second in line on my old lists were excerpts of the Franck 3 chorales and the big chunky sections of the Piece Heroique (The A section up to the drum beats, the recap of the A section after the drum beats and the final chorale). Out of respect for the day and its cultural import locally, I stuck to the tradition of having French repertoire for the Assumption. All selections are from the Couperin Messe pour les Convents, of course with the exception of the improvisation at the offertory, through which I offered hommage to Jean Langlais and Olivier Messiaen.

Ordinary: Celtic Mass
Prelude: Plein Jeu (premier couplet du Gloria)
Dialogue sur la voix humaine
Introit Hymn: Hail Holy Queen
Gradual: Basilica Psalter
Alleluia: Triple
Credo: recited
Offertory: Improvisation upon Ave Maria (Gregorian)
Communion: Elevation: Tierce en taille
Plein jeu sur l'Agnus
Final: Offertoire sur les grands jeux (final section)

The instrument at the cathedral is a fabulous three manual Casavant (1985 -- 53 ranks) which has all you need for anything French, including the delicious snarling reeds and copious mutations. In south Louisiana, I couldn't imagine attempting playing a Mass without reeds or mutations! The French tone colors are bold yet nuanced, and reflect a liturgical worship integral to local culture.

I FEEL LIKE JOHNNY DAMON

After Johnny Damon left the Red Sox and signed with the Yankees, he had to lose the beard and the long hair as a "job requirement". Well, I didn't have the long hair to lose, but I had to lose the only sign of wisdom I had left - the beard - as part of my new job requirement (I start in just two short hours). It's the first time I've been totally clean shaven in almost four years.

Here goes nothing!
Peace,
BMP

CONNECTICUT GETS THEIR FIRST BASILICA

Pictured here is the newly-named Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Waterbury, CT. This minor basilica is the first basilica in Connecticut.


OK, you may think this is nice outside. The inside is drop-dead gorgeous. Click here for some pics from the dedication.


Also, here's the story in the June 2008 issue of the Catholic Transcript, the official newspaper of the Archidocese of Hartford.

I wonder if Rhode Island will ever have a minor basilica. I know of at least a couple of churches that would fit the bill - Holy Name is one of them.

Peace,
BMP

THE KYRIE IS DONE

I just finished the Kyrie for the new Mass setting I mentioned yesterday. I decided to be different - instead of an original melody, I wrote a metrical (3/2 time), yet simple, adaptation of the first line of the Kyrie from Mass VIII (Missa de Angelis).

D_F#GAB|A.
dBAGAB|A.
AF#EDGF#|E_D

The accompaniment is completely my own.

I will not release this work until I see a promulgation date for the new Missal translation.
Peace,
BMP

MASS IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF PROVIDENCE

The title you see in this post is the title of the new Mass setting I am beginning work on. This is an English Mass, according to the newly-approved translation of the Ordinary of the Mass, that I hope to have prepared by the time the entire Mass gets approved.

This Mass setting will include music for:
Lord, Have Mercy (Kyrie, Eleison)
Glory to God in the Highest (Gloria in Excelsis Deo)
Alleluia (with a chant-like Psalm tone for use with the Proper verse of the day)
- Note: a Lenten replacement has not been specified in the new translation - yet! Once it does, I'll update accordingly.
I Believe (Credo)
Holy (Sanctus)
All three Memorial Acclamations (We proclaim your death, O Lord; When we eat this bread and drink this cup; and Save us, Savior of the world)
I will not include an "Amen", in hopes that use of the simple chant A-men___ (F FG or G GA or whatever) will be promoted.
Lamb of God (Agnus Dei)

I wanna be ready, man! :-P
Peace,
BMP

JOSEPH GELINEAU, 1920-2008

It wasn't until I logged into GIA's website today (for the first time in about a month) that I learned about the death of the French Jesuit Pere Joseph Gelineau on Friday, August 8. He was 87, and had been a priest for 67 years.

Pere Gelineau was best known for his musical settings of the Psalms, originally in French, and later in English (Grail translation). Many of his Psalm tones appear with the Psalms as they appear with the Lectionary readings in Worship III. The Good Lord knows I've used and enjoyed (and still do enjoy) many of them over the years at the organ console at Holy Mass.

GIA has this obituary at their website:

With heavy hearts, the people of GIA Publications, Inc. mourn the passing of a liturgical and musical legend, Father Joseph Gelineau, SJ (1920-2008), pastor and visionary. His contribution to the world of liturgical music was both ground breaking and prolific. Gelineau devoted his life to liturgy and was instrumental in the movement toward the Second Vatican Council. He was most renowned for his numerous psalm tones (covering the entire Psalter), which were originally written for the Psalter of the Bible de Jérusalem, and were later applied to the Grail Psalter in English. For over 60 years he also composed for Brother Roger and the Taizé Community. The spiritual power of his music inspired many and now lives in the hearts and minds of Christians worldwide. He died in Sallanches, August 8, 2008 at the age of 87 after 67 years as a Jesuit priest.

Fr. Gelineau's funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday, August 12, 2008, in the village of Vallorcine in the Savoy Alps.

May he rest in eternal peace with his Jesuit brothers in Grenoble, France.

Fr. Gelineau will be missed. May his legacy of excellent music live on!
Peace,
BMP

LUDWIG VON BEAKER? OR BEAKER VON BEETHOVEN?

RSCT to Lyn, who has more Muppet videos here and here.

Enjoy!
Peace,
BMP