HE CREATIVE process often takes time to evolve, always in surprising ways, and sometimes takes on a life of its own even after a premiere. I was honored to be part of a wonderful concert with so many amazing musicians. It happened to be on Father’s Day. With that in mind, I just had to…
Five Things Directors and Choirs Must Remember This Week
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christ Watershed’s, “Views from the Choir Loft” — published March 27, 2015. ELCOME TO Holy Week. For many, preparations have been well underway and are still ongoing. But once the onslaught of liturgies begins, it’s a bit like the morning of a final exam: One can’t study or prepare…
“Sounds from the Spires” with Jennifer Pascual • SiriusXM Radio
RECENTLY joined Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Director of Music for Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and host of Sounds from the Spires, at the SiriusXM Studio in Midtown Manhattan. Her weekly program can be heard on SIRIUSXM 129 Radio, The Catholic Channel. My six-year-old son put me in my place before our interview. My…
122 Messengers of Peace • Dona Nobis Pacem
T’S NEVER just about the music. Music is always about something greater. With sacred music it is about prayer, worship, and putting God at the center. Furthermore, singing in a choir brings about benefits that go well beyond that of making beautiful music. Words are fully inadequate to describe the power of music. I had…
Podcast • Communion Antiphons for Advent on “Sounds from the Spires”
THE COLLECTION of Communion Antiphons for Advent was recently featured on “Sounds from the Spires” on SIRIUS XM 129 Radio, The Catholic Channel. I had the opportunity to speak with the program’s host, Dr. Jennifer Pascual, Director of Music for Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. We discussed the antiphons/propers of the Mass as well as…
Communion Antiphons for Lent
I AM PLEASED to announce the release of my Communion Antiphons for Lent with World Library Publications. These thirteen antiphons are set from the English translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition. All the verses set are those prescribed by Graduale Romanum. Scores are available in hard copies or digital format: Order PDF • Octavo •…
Thank a Church Musician Today! | St. Cecilia Day Variations
THANK A CHURCH MUSICIAN TODAY! Thank your choir! Church musicians put in long hours away from family, missing weekends and evenings. They don’t get paid much money even when at the highest levels of their profession and art. But making music for God is in their blood. They know no other way to live! “Playing…
The Greatest in the Kingdom
FOR OUR FIRST CHILD, our daughter, I composed a hymn based on the story found in three Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) about the disciples arguing over who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus then shows them a little child: Matthew 18: 1-5: At that time the disciples came to Jesus,…
The Seraphim Singers • World Première of work by Adam Wood and Richard J. Clark
HAVE LONG ADMIRED the writing of poet Adam Wood (b. 1982); his poetry, prose, and commentary are distinct, stemming in part from eclectic passions which include liturgy, theology, technology, economics and the Open Source. The results of such combination of interests are fascinating. When Jennifer Lester, Director of The Seraphim Singers, asked me to compose…
Communion Antiphons for Advent • World Library Publicatons
ORLD LIBRARY Publications, the music and liturgy division of J. S. Paluch Company, Inc. has recently released my collection of Communion Antiphons for Advent. WLP will follow up shortly with my settings of communion propers for Lent. The antiphons are set from the English translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, which during Advent are congruent…