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I always enjoy learning about something new - and I'd never even heard of Galant-style liturgical music. Maybe I'm the last to know....
You can visit this website and learn about this publishing project - and that the Galant style is that of mid-eighteenth century Naples. After whetting your appetite, you'll probably want to visit the city - an teeming, chaotic place, filled with delightful people, excellent pastries and historic monuments, views to die for, and a short train ride to Pompeii. Just typing this makes me want to book a flight presto.
While I was only able to spend four days at the CMAA Colloquium, it was a wonderful time. It's the singing, the liturgies, the people, the way-too-late evenings, the annual meeting up with people I enjoy and admire, hearing tales of progress and tales of woe - and laughing enough to last for several months.
If you're a penurious singer or director, start saving your change in a jar for next June. 2012 is bound to be good!
Right now, we're in the midst of the Summer Colloquium at Duquesne University. This annual week of intensive singing and networking is the flagship event of the Church Music Association of America (CMAA). And it's a ship on which I'm happy to sail.
Five chant choirs - from beginning through advanced. Polyphonic choirs doing Byrd, Josquin, Victoria, Lotti. Masses and Vespers. Ordinary form and Extraordinary form.Workshops on topics from semiology to vocal pedagogy. Singers, directors, lovers of sacred music. Faculty from around the world. And sufficient time for exchanging ideas, war stories, and plans for the future.
I've even found some spare moments to begin planning Cantorae St. Augustine's November 2012 concert and my next CD!
Thanks, CMAA!
I'm a big fan of Kyr's music and the singing of Conspirare is to die for. Here's a link to an interesting story on a recent project - and some nice long clips to sample.
And if you've never heard Kyr's Passion According to Four Evangelists, go find it now.
How do I love her? Let me list the ways:
I can assemble a new Manhasset in less time than it takes to put together a wimpy folding stand. Cantorae St. Augustine bought four new ones with the donations from our last concert. No more fighting for a good stand! Black but comely, indeed.
Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby, OSB is travelling in Italy and filed this report on music at several Masses. He also proposed suggestions for reforms. While he's more of a "strict constructionist" than I in terms of musical style, I think it's definitely worth a read.
And it's worth remembering, in our self-pitying moments, that the malaise of sentimental, pop-themed music is worldwide. (Remember also in your prayers all those working for a cure.)
This is taken from a longer essay by Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby, OSB over at Vultus Christ.
This evening we had a splendid Vespers at the beautiful Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine to welcome our new Bishop. All that beauty - sonic, visual, literary (for the Psalms are great poems) - and then I came across this bit (while looking for something else, of course).
If it is true, let us choose our contemplations carefully.
We Become What We Contemplate
Philosophers, psychologists and saints agree that we become what we contemplate. Look at goodness and you will become good. Look at beauty and you will become beautiful. Look at truth and you will become true. Look at purity and you will become pure. Saint Clare of Assisi, herself so marked by Gospel of Saint Luke, wrote to Agnes of Prague: “Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him” (Second Letter to Agnes of Prague).
