Puer Natus Est Nobis

A blessed and Merry Christmas to all of you from RPC. Remember, this is just the start of the Christmas season for us, whereas cultural Christmas ends at 12:01 AM on December 26.

Enjoy having Tuesday night the 30th off from rehearsal, and we'll see you on January 6, 2015!

And once more we bid farewell to our beloved patron, Fr. Francisco. Ave atque vale.

Watch What You Ask For

Former (but not forgotten) RPC'er Shirley Beasley reminds us that, much like a recent Geico commercial, we need to watch what we ask for when we say we want more Latin in the liturgy. Here is Peter Mottola's translation of Marty "Don't tell anyone I'm not Catholic" Haugen's Gather Us In:



Hoc in loco lux lucens nova
Tenebrae nunc evanescuntur
Vide nostrorum metus somniaque
Lati tibi hoc aprico die.

Congrega nos, perditi et relicti
Congrega nos, caeci claudique
Voca nos et exsuscitabimur
Nomen sonatus tunc oriemur.

Juvenes quorum vitae occultae
Et senes qui quaeritamus te
Cantabamur per cunctam historiam
Et luci mundi vocati sumus.

Congrega nos, divites superbi
Congrega nos, qui contumaces
Da nobis cor humile miteque
Ut carmen audacter ingrediamur.

Hic vinum accepimus et aquam
Hic accepimus panem vitae
Vocabis filios filiasque
Vocati denuo sal terrae esse.

Dona vinum miserationis
Dona nobis panem quod es tu
Nutri bene et doce nos facere
Vitas sanctas atque corda vera.

Neque domi nec aliquo caelo
Spatium lucis longe annuae
Hoc in loco, lux radiens nova
Hodie regnum, nunc jam dies.

Congrega nos, et tene in saeculum
Congrega nos, et tui nos fac
Congrega nos, omne nationem
Ignis amoris in visceribus.

And then there's Dan Schutte's Gloria from Missa Equi Mei Parvi ("Mass of My Little Pony"). I had to sit through this in Felton, CA last month.

Very Nice

All of us were getting an eyeful of the altar at St. Peter Canisius today:

As I took this, I heard a voice behind me say, "No pictures allowed in here." It was Deacon Russ Bergin, and he had a perfectly straight face. Then he smiled.

There Is Such A Thing As Too Early

Kathy has reminded us numerous times about the need to be on time for rehearsals and call times. Well, this past Sunday she faced what might be termed a "happy problem" at the Cathedral: too many people showing up too early! Many of us who were there offered to help her arrange the chairs in the choir loft, but she explained it was a job only she could do because she knew where she wanted the chairs to go.

So the moral of the story is to just leave Kathy alone when she's arranging the chairs before Mass. That will especially be important on Christmas Day, when our call time will be right around the time of the 9:30 AM Mass letting out.

Why Gregorian Chant Rocks

According to this article, chant doesn't just "rock," it could also help you live a healthier life!

Why Gregorian Chant Rocks (HT: Chant Cafe)

P.S. Hey, Judy, we're doing our part to keep chant alive!

Dec. 21: 4th Sunday of Advent

At St. Peter Canisius, 8 AM. Pencil snow into the forecast. (P.S.: It's also St. Peter Canisius' feast day!)

Introit: Rorate

Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei (no Gloria): Mass XVII

Offertory: Hail Mary, Full Of Grace

Communio: Veni O Sapientia

Recessional: Veni, Veni Emmanuel/O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Butbutbutbut...Nobody Wants Latin In The Liturgy!

Oh, really?

This movement seeks to ensure that the faithful Mass lifts the believer out of the world and up to heaven, rather than dragging the Mass down to the standards of the world. . . .

“Once we introduced the ordinary form in Latin, the congregation started growing and continued to grow.". . .

[T]he sight of 600 children at the same Mass chanting the Sanctus together with their whole hearts silences those who say children can’t or don’t want to do this.

BTW, both the Cathedral and Holy Spirit Mission are having 6:30 PM EF Masses for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception tomorrow (Monday) night.

Fr. Francisco Gratias

Back in 2010, my dear friend and former Cathedral friar Fr. Masseo Gonzales informed me that a new friar was coming to St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral and was very interested in doing Extraordinary Form Latin Masses. Fr. Masseo knew I was involved with RPC, so I passed along this information to Kathy. She was skeptical at first, but soon found this to be true. So began our relationship with Fr. Francisco Nahoe.

More than four years later, Fr. Francisco has allowed us to bring the splendor of chant and polyphony in Novus Ordo and EF Masses to numerous Northern Nevada (and beyond!) Catholics who either had never experienced it or had not heard it since Vatican II. Even if they didn't like it, they couldn't say they hadn't been exposed to it. Fr. Francisco has also worked tirelessly in helping the poor, defending life, and protecting religious liberty in his time in Reno.

He departs St. Thomas Aquinas and Reno as one of the best friends RPC has ever had. This mere post on a website/blog is insufficient for us to express our gratitude for what Fr. Francisco has done; we would never have accomplished what we have over the last four years without him. Of course, we can pray for him:

O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear our humble prayers on behalf of your priest, Father Francisco. Give him a deep faith, a bright and firm hope and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of his priestly life.
In his loneliness, comfort him. In his sorrows, strengthen him In his frustrations, point out to him that it is through suffering that the soul is purified, and show him that he is needed by the Church, he is needed by souls, he is needed for the work of redemption.
O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your son who is close to you because of his priestly ordination, and because of the power which he has received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs him so much.
Be his comfort, be his joy, be his strength, and especially help him to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.
Amen.

Local Christmas Concerts, or Hey! Unto You A Child Is Born!

Kathy pointed out tonight at rehearsal that many Northern Nevada churches will host Christmas concerts between now and December 25, and maybe even a little bit afterward (remember, December 25 begins the Christmas season for Christians, whereas that's the end date for cultural Christmas). Considering there no longer appears to be an Ecumenical Choir Festival to speak of, attending these performances would be a good way to support those of different denominations who also seek to glorify God through their music. And, they can often be cheap nights out.

For starters, bass JP DeChambeau will be soloing at South Reno Baptist Church's Christmas Musical this Saturday evening (Dec. 6) beginning at 6:30 PM. If you can't attend in person, SRBC will be livestreaming the concert. Elsewhere:

• McQueen High's choir will have its concert at Immaculate Conception Church on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7 PM.
• The Rock Church in Sparks is hosting the Reno Pops Orchestra for its "Joy To The World" concert on Friday, Dec. 12. 
• Not so much on the cheap side, TOCCATA sings Handel's Messiah on  Friday, Dec. 12 at First Methodist Church and Friday. Dec. 19 at Grace Church.
• Ike Ndolo and Sarah Kroger sing for an Advent concert, "Lift Up Your Heads: A Night of Song and Good Cheer" at St. Rose of Lima on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

If you know or hear of others, post a comment below or e-mail me at pault3331 *AT* gmail *DOT* com.

Dec. 14: Third Sunday of Advent

At the Cathedral, 4 PM.

Introit: Gaudete in Domino

 Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei (no Gloria): Mass XVII

Credo III

Offertory: Benedixisti
Savior of the Nations, Come (S, A, T, B)


Communio: Dicite
Veni O Sapientia

Recessional: Veni, Veni Emmanuel/O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Friday, Dec. 12: Advent Prayer Service

At St. Rose of Lima, 6:30 PM.

O Salutaris Hostia
Veni O Sapientia
Tantum Ergo
Veni, Veni Emmanuel/O Come, O Come Emmanuel

A Farewell To Fr. Francisco

From the Cathedral's Facebook feed:

Please join us for a farewell potluck for Father Francisco to say “thank you” and to honor his years of service to the Cathedral. The potluck will follow the 5 pm Mass on Saturday, December 6th. Please bring your favorite dish to share! A basket will be available for you to leave a card for Father!

That Rumbling Sound You Hear...

...is tenor Rob Bateman being chased by the RPC alto section after he posted this on Facebook:

In the interest of equal time:

What's the difference between a lawn mower and a tenor?

You can tune the lawn mower.

Nov. 23: Christ The King

 

At the Cathedral, 4 PM.

Introit: Dignus est Agnus 

Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass VIII

Credo III

Offertory: Postula a me
Crown Him With Many Crowns

Communio: Amen dico nobis
Cantate Domino (Pitoni) (S, A, T, B)

Recessional: Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven (midi file)

And for those who want to practice for Christmas:
Hodie Christus Natus Est (midi file; click on the yellow speaker icon)

One Woman Choir

Saw this example of solo polyphonic singing on the interwebs. I know others, maybe even many others, can do this, but it's still impressive.

Kathy, how about we warm up like this before rehearsal?

A Sherlock Holmes Motet

We're now singing a different post-Communio motet next Sunday, and we have exactly one rehearsal to make it work. There's quite a backstory, however.

Kathy's husband Bob is a fan of the British series Sherlock Holmes (the 1984-1994 series starring the late Jeremy Brett; not to be confused with the current BBC Sherlock series or the CBS show Elementary). On one of the episodes was a setting of Libera Me that struck a chord (as it were) with both Kathy and Bob. They scanned the credits and found the composer's name was Patrick Gowers, a prolific composer who wrote not only that piece but all the music for the show.

Gowers may be prolific, but Kathy had the hardest time locating the sheet music for Libera Me, and it seemed it would not arrive in time for the All Souls' Day Mass. I'll spare some of the details; Kathy will relate them better anyway. The music finally arrived from the UK on Friday.

Kathy has sent a sound file to at least some members, but asked me not to post it because of copyright issues. In lieu (not Liu) of that, I'll link to this clip from Amazon.

The Friar's Pantry

RPC has now adopted the Friar's Pantry at St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral as its outreach charity. We will be collecting items at each rehearsal that will be used to help the needy not just at Thanksgiving or Christmas, but all choir season long. It's not necessary to give a lot, but if everyone (who is able, of course) gives SOMEthing, we can certainly make a difference.

What can the pantry use?

Seasonal items:

• Jackets, coats, blankets, and sleeping bags
• (Thanksgiving) Supper items
• (Christmas) Small gifts and candy for the children

Food:

• Canned goods
• Dry goods (rice, spaghetti, pasta, beans, popcorn)
• Peanut butter and other high protein items
• Condiments
• Flour, sugar, pancake mix, dry or canned milk
• Cereal
• Coffee, tea, hot chocolate

Personal hygiene:

• Soap
• Shampoo, conditioner
• Toothpaste, toothbrushes
• Deodorant
• Toilet paper
• Tissues
• Razors
• Tampons, pads
• Diapers, wipes

Kathy asks that you not give her cash; she can direct you to the pantry contact who will accept it. May God repay you many times over for your generosity.

Rehearsal Reminder

We will not be in the chapel this week, so enter by the left-most front door and turn left down the classroom hallway. That goes for the pre-rehearsal chant class also. Do not use the door from the outside to the classroom; it's an emergency exit only.

Nov. 2: All Souls Day

4 PM at the Cathedral. (Cartoon by Paul Nichols)

Procession: Miserere (Rossini) We won't be singing it; a processional isn't part of a Novus Ordo Mass

Introit: Requiem aeternam

Kyrie

Sequence: Dies irae

Alleluia and verse (Requiem)

Credo III

Offertory: Domine Jesu Christe
Inimici Autem (De Lasso; seems to be a decent version)

Sanctus

Agnus Dei

Communio: Lux aeterna
Libera Me (Witt Gowers; clip only; Kathy sent around a sound file)

In Paradisum

Recessional: De Profundis (Witt)

17 (And Counting) Ways To End Up In Kathy's Doghouse

(An update to this post)

Kathy, our director, is a kind, patient, and classy soul, but even she has her limits.  If you really want to get under her skin, here's how. This list will likely grow in saecula saeculorum.

1. Don't show up for rehearsal or Mass without telling her.
2. Don't review the music between rehearsals or before coming to Mass.
3. Tell her she never gave you that piece of music . . . when she did.
4. Tell her you can't show up for rehearsal or Mass just beforehand when you knew days or even weeks ago you wouldn't be there.
5. Show up late for rehearsal or Mass with no good reason.
6. Leave early with no good reason.
7. Come to Mass without your music in order.
8. Flip, flip, and flip some more through your music because it's not in order, especially when everyone else is ready to sing.
9. Decide her beat is insufficient and maintain your own timing--or no timing at all.
10. Keep your nose firmly inside your music at all times, ignoring her direction.
11. Anticipate the "s" at the end or beginning of a phrase.
12. Use the American "r", such as in "Glorrrrrrrria".
13. Use the Fonzie-esque "ayyyy", such as in "Dayyyyy-ee" (Dei).
14. Get louder on the upper note of a podatus.
15. Get louder (and likely sharper) because you think everyone else is going flat and you're trying to "pull them up."
16. Double the note on a punctum with a horizontal episema, a salicus, or a quilisma.
17. Take breaths at every quarter bar, and only at every quarter bar, unless otherwise directed.

Add your own in the comments.

Condolences

We at RPC extend our condolences to our alto Kat, as well as the family of the close friend she recently lost.

Quick Reminders

1. If you show up this Sunday, you'll have the choir loft at the Cathedral all to yourself...if it's unlocked. The St. Francis High Mass is this SATURDAY afternoon. At least one member said, "See you Sunday!" on the way out of rehearsal Tuesday night.

2. Call time is 4 PM in Righini Hall beneath the Cathedral.

He Is The Champion, My Friends

This was not a weekend off for bass JP DeChambeau, who competed in a two-day Karaoke contest at Murphy's Law Irish Pub against 23 others...and won! He pocketed a $1,000 prize. Check out his semi-final Michael Buble performance here (video and photo courtesy of Kim Garback).

So, dinner after Tuesday rehearsal is on him?

Saturday, Oct. 4: Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Saturday, 4 PM at the Cathedral. EF High Mass. Kathy was right; not much of this music is to be found on the interwebs.

Processional: Jesu Dulcis Memoria

Asperges Me

Introit: Gaudeamus

Kyrie: Missa IV Toni (Victoria)

Gloria, Sanctus: Mass VIII

Gradual: Quasi stella

Alleluia: O Patriarcha

Sequence: Sanctitatis nova signa

Credo III

Offertory: Magnificabitur
Ave Maria (Victoria)

Post Elevation: O Sacrum Convivium (D'Evry)

Agnus Dei: Haller

Communio: Non sunt condignae
O Quam Suavis (Shenk)

Last Gospel: Salve Regina

Recessional: Alleluia Al Vangelo (Gabrieli: midi file)

Chant Basic

(um, not that kind of BASIC...)

From Kathy:

If any of you wish to re-visit or begin your knowledge of basic Gregorian chant, I will have a 30 minute session before Tuesday rehearsals for several weeks.  That means you would need to arrive by 6:30 PM.  The sessions will run from 6:30 PM - 7 PM. [...]

If you want to do this, please let me know so that I can prepare accordingly.  I only need to hear from you if you plan on being present for the short chant session.

And There It Is

Thank you, Nevada DMV, for enabling "chant nerds" to find Kathy by means of her license plate! (Actually, thank you who paid for the new plate and three years of renewals.)

On a different subject, we (the schola that sang for Triumph of the Cross today at the Cathedral) appreciate those who cleaned the air conditioning system at the Cathedral over the summer. If anything, we were a bit chilly in the choir loft today as the temperatures outside pushed 90.

See you on Tuesday night for the start of another season!

No Choice Of Chant For Young Catholics

Regina Pacis Cantorum exists because of the dearth of truly sacred music in today's Catholic liturgy. In thanks for our trying to bring it back to prominence (which Vatican II says it is supposed to have), we're called "elitist," a "relic," and "behind the times." The lay people who make up the largest proportion of Mass-goers these days were brought up on Jack Miffleton, Joe Wise, Tom Parker, Ray Repp, the St. Louis Jesuits, Marty Haugen, and David Haas, inter alia. Many of those before that generation were all too glad to get rid of chant and polyphony, eagerly welcoming Repp, Parker, et al. into the liturgy in the mid-1960's.

Dioceses and archdioceses give a wide berth to not only the Oregon Catholic Press/GIA/J.S. Paluch modern hymnody but "contemporary Christian" (read: Protestant/evangelical) music at Mass while trying to shove chant and polyphony under the rug, or at best ignore that they even exist. Nowhere does this seem to be more apparent than at "LifeTeen" Masses and other ministries aimed at young people. The majority of those who attend LifeTeen Masses will never enter a church again after they go to college/graduate from high school, and they will never get any exposure to sacred music, even (or especially!) at most "Catholic" colleges and universities.

The Baltimore Archdiocese is celebrating its 225th anniversary with a concert by Matt Maher, a contemporary Christian artist who happens to be Catholic. I'm sure Maher is a fine man and I concede this is not taking place in the context of a Mass, but what are young people in Baltimore (those who actually bother to go) going to get out of this concert? They may well conclude it's nothing more than a poor substitute for what they hear on the radio or see on MTV (on the rare occasion MTV actually shows a music video). We adults assume this is what the kids want/need for their spirituality, and they could never want to hear/sing chant or polyphony. Why? Also, the Diocese of Reno is eager to cater to the many ethnic populations in northern Nevada as well as to young people, but why is exposure to chant never included?

Contrast that with this article about fledgling Latin Chant camps that have become wildly popular with Catholic kids. Thank God they actually got exposed to sacred music, and that we adults allowed them! Unfortunately, most of us adults raised on "Sons of God" and "Here I Am, Lord" don't want to call our kids on to the deeper spirituality of chant and polyphony because it would be setting the bar too high for them. As Robert Browning said, "A man's reach must exceed his grasp / Or what's a Heaven for?"

Catholic adults think they're doing the kids a favor by denying them any exposure to sacred music; rather, they're creating the next generation of former Catholics. My sincere hope is that Regina Pacis Cantorum can put a small dent in that process and maybe even reverse it a little, showing Catholics of all ages that chant and polyphony can take them into closer spiritual fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

On The Lighter Side

This cartoon could apply if ever we sing at Our Lady of Tahoe in Zephyr Cove again.

HT: Sandy.

The Keyboard The Second

A couple weekends ago, I was doing my usual Saturday morning visits to yard sales in Reno-Sparks. At Reed High, their Navy ROTC students were holding a fundraising rummage sale in which you could determine how much you wanted to give them for any given item. That's where I saw this, for which I gave $5.00:

Had I known the keyboard I found earlier this summer made an obnoxious sound whenever the volume or the sound was changed, I might have skipped it; this new one has neither. But that first one won't go to waste; Kathy says Rob Bateman may use it if leading a sectional workshop at a rehearsal.

Kathy is using a small board that allows her to keep the keyboard and her music on her stand.

I'd Like To Teach The Interwebs To Sing In Perfect Polyphony

Check out this virtual choir of Carmelites singing Salve Regina for the 500th anniversary of the birth of St. Teresa of Avila. Each recorded herself or himself. (HT: Sandy.)

Is It Time Yet?

Almost. But it's not too early to get your Fonzie-esque "ay's", American R's, anticipatory S's, and increased volume on the upper notes of the podatuses (podati?) out of your system. Regular rehearsals will resume on Tuesday, September 16.

We intend to make the most of Fr. Francisco's presence with us while we still have him; sadly, he'll be moving on at the end of the year, and our ability to sing at the Cathedral thereafter is not known. Therefore, a schola is going to rehearse at Kathy's on Thursdays starting this week for the 5 PM Cathedral Mass celebrating the Triumph of the Cross on September 14.

I have no idea whether Fr. Francisco owns a leather jacket. I do know he owns a Boston Red Sox jacket.

Corpus Christi Watershed

Another site in our list of links, this is the one from which I get many of the videos which help us with our Mass preparation. CCW is a strictly volunteer-run site by those who, like RPC, want to see Gregorian chant restored to its proper place in the Liturgy. It's a wonderful resource for learning more about chant and its role. CCW was also the publisher of the Vatican II Hymnal which the Cathedral uses.

Highlights of the site include:

• How to Sing Gregorian Chant
• The blog Views From The Choir Loft
• St. Rene Goupil Gregorian Chant, home of PDFs and videos for each week's propers in the Extraordinary Form Mass schedule
• The St. Antoine Daniel Kyriale, which contains PDFs and videos for all the Latin Masses. I've printed out the Mass parts we most frequently use and put them in my binder so I don't have to fumble for my Liber Cantualis. That includes each Gloria and Credo on only one sheet of paper.

Since it's all volunteer, the site can use your donations.

The Search Is Over

(no, not the old Survivor song!)

Many of us have been on the lookout for a replacement keyboard for Kathy; the one she's been using has been giving out almost since she first had it. Well, I was checking out some yard sales in Sparks and found this gem in good condition, a Casio SA-39:

It's a little longer and wider than the keyboard she has now, but it weighs about the same, so it's still quite portable. If we can find an adapter to go with it (and I see some online), even better. And it doesn't have that annoying run up the scale when it's switched on.

Oh, the folks who sold it to me were Catholic, and when I told them I was buying it for Kathy, I told them about Regina Pacis also. They seemed interested, so I hope they're looking at this page and come hear us next season!

The Church Music Association Of America

(Second in a series about the links from the RPC site, found on the left of the screen)

We owe a huge debt to the CMAA, which puts on the annual Sacred Music Colloquium that Kathy goes to each year and many of us have attended as well. Our good friend and mentor Dr. William Mahrt is the president of the CMAA. As I type this, the site is full of notes about this year's just-completed colloquium in Indianapolis. It also has lots of audio files from this and prior colloquiums (colloquia?).

I thought the CMAA was a fairly new creation from those who wanted, like Regina Pacis, to see sacred music (chant and polyphony) restored to the liturgy; actually, the CMAA has been around since 1874. Still, this one sentence from their "About Us" section sums up their existence: "No cathedral and no parish need be without sacred music." The overwhelming majority of Sunday Masses in the Reno-Sparks area will remind you that such a dearth unfortunately persists.

Through the CMAA site, you can:

• Subscribe to the Sacred Music Journal, edited by Dr. Mahrt.
• Read the latest thoughts about the state of chant and sacred music in the Chant Cafe.
• Read about the greater issues of sacred music and the liturgy in New Liturgical Movement.
• Participate in the interactive Musica Sacra forum. I recommend "lurking" for a while before posting.
• Download PDF files of both music and related articles and literature free of charge.

Reno Catholic Network

This summer, I'll highlight a few of the sites that we link to here on rpchoir.blogspot.com.

I start with Reno Catholic Network, a labor of love from our good Cathedral friend Gwen Linde (Col. USAF Ret.). Gwen has recorded and compiled numerous homilies, talks, and presentations of various sorts from the Cathedral and beyond, including our own chant workshop from September 2013. You can easily download any of these talks to your mp3 player or smartphone by using the "Save link as..." function.

Here's just a sampling of what else you can find on the Reno Catholic Network site:

• Homilies by Bishop Calvo, Fr. Francisco Nahoe, and Deacon Joe Bell, among others.
• "Answering Tough Questions," which does just that on a variety of moral, liturgical, and denominational issues. Kathy gave a talk for this series called "Why Gregorian Chant at Mass?"
• "Why Are There Protestants, Anyway?", a "tough question" that warranted its own series earlier this year.
• Talks about Cathedral patron St. Thomas Aquinas from the novena to him.
• The recently completed four-year "beginning to end" Bible study.

Take a look around the site, and maybe you'll find some good, edifying, and local Catholic material to listen to!

Have A Great Summer

It wouldn't be a Regina Pacis Cantorum season without challenges, right? We certainly had our share, especially in the realm of health. It seemed like no one was immune; Kathy had to lead on through her crud around Christmas, I was KO'd for most of January and February, and even Sandy got a cold to miss our Corpus Christi finale.

A big THANK YOU goes out to all of our new members! Some of you joined us following the successful chant workshop we had in September, while others came aboard as the year went on. I hope you all felt welcome and learned a thing or two about the wonderful world of chant.

Thank you also to all the pastors who allowed us the privilege of singing in their sanctuaries: Fr. Francisco Nahoe, Fr. Larry Morrison, Fr. Norman King, Fr. Guillermo Arias, and Fr. Loy Torente. We're always open to singing in other parishes if they will have us.

One more thank you goes out to Kathy and tenor Rob Bateman. It's way too easy to take for granted how they displayed their incomparable voices in chanting Gradual and Offertory verses; those pieces required extra preparation beyond the usual song load. Bravissimo!

We also said goodbye to some of our most cherished singers: Shirley Beasley, Sarah Beasley, Patty Dickens, her mom Helen, and her sister-in-law Renee. Your impact on RPC will long be remembered.

Kathy is now heading off to the Sacred Music Colloquium in Indianapolis, as well as to see relatives in Indiana whom she hasn't seen in as many as 50 years. When she gets back, she will be the proud owner of this Nevada license plate, thanks to your generosity:

Enjoy the summer, and we'll see you in the fall. Meanwhile, keep an eye and ear out for any sopranos and basses who would be great additions to our numbers. Not that we'll turn away any prospective altos or tenors!

Benedicamus Domino...Deo gratias!

Requiescat in Pace

The father of bass Tim Rhodes has died following a lengthy illness. We pray he is in a much more peaceful and pain-free place now, and that the Holy Spirit will minister to Tim and his family. Tim chose to sing with us at the Corpus Christi High Mass today; no one would have blamed him if he didn't.

Good News

Many of us know Kathy's lovely and talented daughter, Marli. Well, she was just named the Sparks Museum and Cultural Center's museum director. She's coordinated and performed at Celtic events at the museum before. Congratulations!

She and Kathy would appreciate some prayers for Marli's newlywed husband Paul, who was just laid off. That's a situation with which too many RPC members have been familiar, myself included. St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us!

(UPDATE: Paul has accepted a position with a Las Vegas company, so he and Marli will be moving there, with, Marli "commuting" to Reno to continue in her new position. Thank you, St. Joseph!)

Prayers Answered

Bass JP DeChambeau asked me to share with you the happy news that his lengthy court battle is done, and he is now free and clear of debt. This should open the way for him to attend college.

In fact, JP is so happy about it, he's decided to sing. (By the way, if you have any samples of your own singing you'd like to share, let me know.)

What You Should Be Keeping After Next Sunday

After next Sunday (Jun. 22), you should be hanging onto:

• Adoremus Hymnal
• Liber Cantualis
• Asperges Me/Vidi Aquam
• Gospel Acclamations for Sundays of the Year I
• Repleatur
• Any instruction sheets on Gregorian chant
• Solfege sheet
• Latin pronunciation sheet

And only if you have them:

• St. Gregory Hymnal
• The "Green Book" (Chormusik der Caecilianer)
• Gloria Patri tones (if you don't have them, they're here)
• Memorial Acclamation
• Chants of the Roman Missal booklet

All else should be turned in in alphabetical (hymn/motet) or numeric (Psalm) order, EXCEPT any schedules or personally-made copies of any music; do Kathy a favor and discard those yourself. If you still have any propers, make sure the correct Communio sheets are inside.

Kathy also says if you'd like to get your own music back, write your name in pencil at the top of each piece of music; that goes for all season long. Otherwise, save Kathy some extra work again by erasing any marks in your music.

Jun. 22: Corpus Christi

4 PM at the Cathedral. Last Mass of the season, but we'll have all summer to rest up from it. Maybe it's just me, but with this being Nevada, wouldn't a procession led by a heavy-duty pickup truck be something?

Bring water and maybe a snack for the duration of the procession.

Prelude: Domine, Non Sum Dignus/Miserere Mei

Introit: Cibavit eos

Gloria: Mass XI (Orbis Factor)

Gradual: Oculi omnium

Alleluia: Caro mea (they don't, but we repeat the Alleluia after the intonation)

Sequence: Last part of Lauda Sion (start at 4:59, Ecce panis Angelorum)

Offertory: Sacerdotes Domini (proper; MP3 only)
Sacerdotes Domini (Haller motet)

Communio: Quotiescumque (MP3 only)
Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart)

Processional: O God Of Loveliness

(break for the procession)

Re-Entry: Lauda Sion (all)

Tantum Ergo (start at 1:56)

Closing: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name (S, A, T, B)

Unless Kathy sends other sound files, I don't have anything for the Marxer-Rossini Missa Brevis or the Werner O Salutaris Hostia.

This Year's Sacred Music Colloquium

Is in Indianapolis, not far from where Kathy grew up! She, of course, is going; other RPC members have attended in recent years. More info here.

We're Disrobing. Really.

This might be a first for an official RPC Mass, although I'm sure someone who has been around longer will correct me. From Kathy (emphasis mine):

In looking at the weather forecast, I see the high for Sunday is scheduled in the mid-90s.  Since the church will have been closed all afternoon with no a/c running, I think it will be too hot to have robes on in the choir loft.  I don't want anyone getting sick due to having the robe on.  I'll ask to have the a/c turned on as soon as someone shows up who has access to it, but the loft will still be pretty warm.

Please be aware that you are representing Regina Pacis and people know who we are.  Please dress in a dignified manner.  No jeans or T-shirts please!

No word on whether we'll sing "Shall We Gather At The River?" afterward.

Stand By To Stand By

All sorts of things are happening regarding Corpus Christi at the Cathedral on June 22, our final Mass of the year. It looks like we will be singing at 5 PM again instead of 11:30 AM to avoid a conflict with the diocesan Jubilee Mass following soon after, although that puts us against the 7 PM Spanish Mass if there's a procession.

It also means a jumbling of our rehearsals; look for an e-mail from Kathy regarding next week's sectional rehearsals, and make sure to reply to her.

Finally, if we are indeed doing an EF High Mass on Corpus Christi, we'll be doing Lauda Sion once again, so I've linked it for practice purposes. We'll alternate verses: All, T/B, All, S/A, All, etc.

Jun. 8: Pentecost

At the Cathedral, 4 PM. EF High Mass. Mantilla time.

Vidi Aquam

Introit: Spiritus Domini

Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei: Missa O Quam Gloriosum

Alleluia, Emitte Spiritum tuum
Alleluia, Veni Sancte Spiritus
Sequence: Veni Sancte Spiritus

Credo III

Offertory: Confirma hoc

Communio: Factus est repente
Factus est repente (Aichinger motet)

No EMC This Year

It's been our privilege to sing at the 5 PM Mass for the Eucharistic and Marian Conferences at Immaculate Conception over the past several years.

But not this year. From the Be Present Faithful Catholic Apostolate's website:

With much prayer and discernment, it has been decided that there will not be a 2014 Eucharistic and Marian Conference.  We will be taking the year to further reflect on the future of the conferences.  God has presented in year's [sic] past a very clear path for each conference and we have done our best to answer His call.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Prayers Please

For Phyllis Young, who is having difficulties with her lungs again.

June 1: Ascension Thursday Sunday

(ETF date. Sorry I haven't been as prompt about posting lately. This job thing has been getting in the way, a happy problem.)

8 AM at St. Peter Canisius. No snow in the forecast.

Introit: Viri Galilei

Kyrie: Missa O Quam Gloriosum

Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass I

Offertory: Men of Galilee

Communio: Panis Angelicus (Palestrina)

Recessional: O God Of Loveliness

Factus Est Repente Redux

Here's a better version in MIDI format, courtesy of Kathy.

Factus Est Repente

Factus Est Repente

Factus Est Repente

See newer post above.

For the May 17 wedding...

There'll be a special rehearsal this Thursday, May 8, at 7 PM at Kathy's house.

More Tech Issues For Kathy

Kathy told us today her quest to get up to speed technology-wise has suffered some setbacks, to say the least. Her computer AND printer both went up last week, and then when an unnamed cable company (*cough*Charter*cough*) tried to install her phone, she lost her phone line AND her TV feed. So, she's almost incommunicado. I suggested she post the upcoming song lists atop her house in print big enough that any of us can see it anywhere in the Truckee Meadows.

She still has her laptop, but she warns that her e-mail responses may be a little strange in appearance. Still, that's probably the best way to get hold of her for now: bkreinh [at] gbis [dot] com.

May 18: 5th Sunday of Easter

4:15 PM at the Cathedral.

Introit: Cantate Domino

Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass VIII

Credo III

Offertory: Jubilate Deo
O Sanctissima

Communio: Tanto tempore
Panis Angelicus (Palestrina)

Recessional: Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven

Sat. May 17: Gurries-Kent Wedding

12 noon at the Cathedral. Plenty of organ pieces throughout.

Introit: Deus in loco sancto

Offertory: In Te speravi

Sanctus: Marier

Agnus Dei: St. Theodore Mass, Richard Rice

Communio: Beati mundo corde
O Sacrum Convivium (D'Evry)

May 4: 3rd Sunday of Easter

At the Cathedral, 5 PM. Check back for updates. Published now so you can get a jump start on the April 29 rehearsal, the only one before this Mass.

Introit: Jubilate Deo

Vidi Aquam

Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass VIII

Credo III

Offertory: Lauda anima mea
At The Lamb's High Feast

Communio: Surrexit Dominus (mp3 only)
Surrexit Pastor Bonus
Regina Coeli

Closing: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

High Praise From The Pastor

Fr. Larry Morrison is the pastor of St. Rose of Lima and the gracious host of our choir for rehearsals. He does not hand out accolades left and right. Yet after our Good Friday service, he told Kathy:

"In my 35 years as a priest, that was the most memorable Good Friday service I've been part of, and it was because of Regina Pacis Cantorum."

Just doing our ministry, Fr. Larry, but thanks! Also, a family stopped Sandy and me on the parking lot to say how they thought our music really enhanced the Good Friday experience.

Resurrexit sicut dixit

A happy and blessed Easter to one and all in RPC.

And thanks for dealing with the close quarters in the Cathedral's choir loft today.

Take The Week Off

There will be no rehearsal on Tuesday, April 22. Enjoy the night off!