Sacred Miscellany

Musical Revival in the Shul!

 Prepping for a radio show featuring music heard in Colonial America's synagogues, I came across this article in Cantors World.  Quality cantorial singing is having a revival!  And the volunteer effort making this happen reminds me of the labors of the Church Music Association of America (CMAA).

And we in the Catholic Church thought we were the only ones.  May all who seek to beautify worship prosper in year 5770.

Vespers at the Shrine

The St. Augustine Schola Cantorae will be singing their monthly vespers at the Shrine Chapel of La Leche this evening, September 25, 2009, starting at 6 p.m. with the Angelus. 

Our Magnificat tonight will be something new: a two-part arrangement of the Znamenny chant with the traditional refrain, "More honorable than the Cherubim" inserted between the verses. Simple in appearance but tricky to keep light and moving forward.

Hoping for some cooling breezes from the Intracoastal Waterway while we sing!  It still feels like summer in Florida.

Dan Brown Sequel Generator

You can find this over at Slate.  Pick the city and the villanous group.  And they're just as silly as the books that are making this guy millions.

Go figure!

Archives Opening This Evening

My harp and I are going historical this evening for the opening of the Diocesan Archives in St. Augustine.  The diocese has some of the oldest documents originating in the United States because of the city's foundation in 1565.  (The papers aren't quite that old - but close.)

And the first governor of St. Augustine brought a harp (and player) along with him, so it's quite appropriate.

Need a Laugh?

These are stressful times for many.  Projects cave in.  Gigs slow.  Customers appear to have been abducted by space aliens.

Need to lighten up?

Remember The Onion.  Put it on your fast links and take a two-minute break watching a parody newscast or reading a pretend news article.

Then you can go back to prospecting for clients, re-doing a demo CD, and signaling with a flashlight for the flying saucer to bring your customers back.

Was St. Benedict a Choir Director?

Well, I'll never be an Abbess (thank goodness), but I think we can see the aptness of Benedict's counsel if we work with singers:

The Abbess should always remember what she is
and what she is called,
and should know that to whom more is committed,
from her more is required (Luke 12:48).
Let her understand also
what a difficult and arduous task she has undertaken:
ruling souls and adapting herself to a variety of characters.
One she must coax, another scold, another persuade,
according to each one's character and understanding.
Thus she must adjust and adapt herself to all
in such a way that she may not only suffer no loss
in the flock committed to her care,
but may even rejoice in the increase of a good flock.

(Emphasis added)

Selections above from Saint Benedict's Rule for Monasteries, translated from the Latin by Leonard J. Doyle OblSB, of Saint John's Abbey, (© Copyright 1948, 2001, by the Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, MN 56321). Adapted for use here with the division into sense lines of the first edition that was republished in 2001 to mark the 75th anniversary of Liturgical Press. Doyle's translation is available in both hardcoverand paperbackeditions.

CDs on Sale!

Bring some beauty into your life!  Buy my CDs!

In the process of redesigning websites, etc., I've decided to lower the price on my CDs.  They're now $9.95 - a hefty price reduction. 

Shop now for Christmas, Hanukkah, the holiday of your choice.  Go over to my website, check it out, and think of Aunt Louise who keeps reminding you about the music lessons you quit.  Well, I didn't quit - and supporting a musician is almost as good as being one and probably more lucrative.

If you're a digital type, you can buy downloaded albums and tracks at CDBaby or tracks at your favorite digital outlet (iTunes, Rhapsody) by searching for me.

Cat Shower

This useless and highly amusing video is very soothing to watch.  Thanks to my friend Richard.

Rural Life Prayerbook 1955

There were bright moments in the mid-century American Catholic scene.  And the Rural Life movement was one of them with its vision of Catholic agrarian families and community.  This prayerbook is a delight to peruse, includling a prayer for the blessing of woodlots.

Little Things that Make Me Happy

My Dymo LabelWriter 400

I love this little baby that sits on my desk and whirs out labels on my command.  Normally I rail against single-purpose devices (especially the Baconeer and the Hotdogger, remember them?). However, my printer hates envelopes.  I hate Avery label printing sheets when I only need a couple of dissimilar addresses.  And occasionally people get excited and order CDs directly from me.

LabelWriter 400 is only too happy to comply.  Thank you, Dymo.