Diocesan Bulletin Ad for RPC

Maybe we can make this go sort of viral. Many thanks to Lorraine for making this happen. It's even on the website at Our Lady of the Snows, where Kathy was once DRM.

"Practice, Woman, Practice!"

A quick note about an RPC alumna: Patty Dickens will be singing the Mozart Reqiuem, inter alia, with members of the Reno Philharmonic chorus and singers from as far as Vienna [1] on February 15 in Carnegie Hall. Are any other current or former RPC members singing there as well? Please let me know and I'll add them/you in.

We haven't made it to Carnegie Hall yet, but RPC did go to Rome years ago.

[1] Austria, not Virginia, although the latter is the home of Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, another stage worthy of a musician's aspirations.

Quietly Carrying The Torch

Even CBS News (click for video) has now picked up on the Benedictine monks of Norcia, Italy, who have taken the mantle of chant borne by their brethren at Santo Domingo de Silos two decades before. Some of what is shown is familiar to readers of this blog, but there are some great backstories and quotes. My favorite quote: "Music can often get where words can't."

HT: Kathy

SATURDAY, Feb. 6: 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

SATURDAY at St. Michael's, Stead, 4:45 PM. Map: take the Stead Blvd. exit from Hwy. 395.

It's the second time in three weeks where we will be debuting at a parish, not counting the Eucharistic and Marian Conferences at Immaculate Conception. The lineup of songs should look familiar; it's similar to what we sang at IC.

Introit: Venite adoremus

Kyrie: Mass XI

Gloria: Missa Lauda Sion

Offertory: Render Secure My Footsteps

Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass XVIII

Communion: Introibo ad altare Dei, Ave Verum Corpus (Josquin)

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

You Like Us!

We got quite a few kudos from the fine parishioners of Immaculate Conception after our Mass today, as many as we've gotten after any Mass. As previously mentioned, this was the first time we were invited there, and if Fr. Philip George's words to us at the end of Mass are any indication, it won't be the last. We thank Kathy's protege and 9:30 AM choir director Andrea Santos for her role in bringing us, and wish her choir nothing but the best.

Many parishioners were saying they hadn't heard our kind of music before, or in many years. To them I reply, "It is our pleasure," and add this is the purpose of Regina Pacis Cantorum.

We're not out to "take over" any Masses or parishes.
We're not out to agitate that the Extraordinary Form is the only way to celebrate Mass.
We're not out to impose Latin on the Novus Ordo.
We're all about exposing Catholics to the timeless treasury of polyphony and chant, to let them know it still exists. Not everyone will want to hear it, but it shouldn't be because they never experienced it.

(BTW, Sally Field never said, "You like me, you really like me!" at the Oscars. She said, "... I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!")

Why We Should Mark Our Music (In Pencil, Of Course)

Kristin Rosenqvist tipped me off to this video from Tenebrae, regarded as one of the finest choirs in the world (maybe we'll crack the Top 25 in the coaches' poll someday). In the video, two things become apparent: there aren't that many members, and they mark their music. Kristin wonders whether one of the reasons they're so good could be the marking of the music, like Kathy occasionally suggests we do (and by "occasionally," I mean "often"). I reckon it wouldn't make our singing worse!

I'd Like A Four-Hymn Sandwich on Sourdough, Hold The Mayo

We have a long way to go to get away from the "four-hymn sandwich," but unlike Smokey and the Bandit, we have a long time to get there. This article from Homiletic and Pastoral Review gives a great historical account of how we got to this point and how we can turn back. It also cites our great mentor, Dr. William Mahrt.

Propers Of The Mass Vs. The Four-Hymn Sandwich

January 31: 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

4 PM at the Cathedral. St. Michael's Hymnal required. Stretch and use rosin before lifting.

Introit: Laetatur cor

Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass VIII

Credo III

Offertory: Bonum est, O Jesus We Adore Thee

Communio: Illumina faciem tuam, O Bone Jesu

Recessional: Christ Is Made The Sure Foundation

January 24: 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

8:30 AM at Immaculate Conception, Sparks. 

• First time we've sung there since October 2013, and the first time the parish has invited us ever. 
• The parking lot will be relatively full for the 8 AM Mass going on at that time. 
• We will be rehearsing in a room to the LEFT of the narthex when we enter, not to the right as we did for the Eucharistic and Marian Conferences.

Introit: Adorate Deum (mp3)

Kyrie: Mass XI

Gloria: Missa Lauda Sion

Offertory: The Lord's Right Hand

Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass XVIII

Communion: Comedite, Ave Verum Corpus (Josquin)  (Others may be added)

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

Has The EF Maxed Out Its Appeal?

I got the following National Catholic Register article from a friend of mine who liked our choir while he was here in Reno, but never really understood the EF Mass:

An Urgent Warning About The Future of the Traditional Latin Mass by Msgr. Charles Pope. Excerpt:

It seems that a ceiling has been hit. The Traditional Latin Mass appeals to a certain niche group of Catholics, but the number in that group appears to have reached its maximum.

Some traditional Catholics I speak to say, “If only the archdiocese would promote us more,” or “If only the bishop would celebrate it at all or more frequently.” Perhaps, but many other niche groups in the archdiocese say the same thing about their particular interest. 

At the end of the day, for any particular movement, prayer form, organization, or even liturgy, the job of promoting it must belong to those who love it most. Shepherds don't have sheep; sheep have sheep. . . . [N]umbers matter. (Emphasis added.)

Does Msgr. Pope have a point? Have we lost our last best chance of seeing the Cathedral filled for a Friday EF Mass? Is there any hope of the EF Mass getting more traction on its own merit or appeal? Who is to blame: the clergy, the laity who want the EF, or both? Or is Monsignior's premise, that "if you build it, they will come" isn't working for the EF, even correct?

My opinion, which along with 50 cents won't get anything from a soda machine, is that as long as Catholic children are denied the experience of and exposure to the EF--even in Catholic schools--there is no hope of the appeal of the EF growing any further. My Jesuit high school taught Latin, but the priests never celebrated Mass in the EF or taught chant. Hand-wringing and giving up are not the answer, however; education about the proper place of the EF, chant, and polyphony are tantamount to the generations that have known only OCP/GIA, Haugen-Haas, Repp-Parker-Miffleton, the St. Louis Jesuits, etc. That's the exposure Catholic kids are still getting today, if not also to Protestant "praise and worship" music. These forces are well entrenched, as Fr. Francisco reminded us.

This leads to the other reason my friend posted this article. He says he simply loses track at an EF Mass, even with the Missal in both Latin and English:

Maybe TLM devotees could take a page from the evangelization efforts of NO parishes and offer occasional "teaching masses" wherein newcomers are invited, and the priest walks them through the Mass with commentary about what is happening, where to turn in the Missal, etc. I am drawn to the TLM but haven't gone very often because I get lost. I like the signs of increased reverence, but want to be able to follow along.

Should the Cathedral, Holy Spirit Mission, or even RPC do more in this regard? If so, would it result in greater interest in the EF? We did, of course, have a public chant workshop a couple years back. I'd be interested in hearing your opinions. The comments on the article make for interesting reading also;  they go from most recent at the top to the oldest at the bottom.

One other point: I think some of the most devoted evangelists in the world are vegans. I don't know any who don't want to make you a vegan also, and they mention it every chance they get. Do we (I) ever talk to other Catholics about the beauty of the EF and chant with as much fervor?

January 17: 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

4 PM at the Cathedral. (Yes, it's true: I say 4 PM on here in the hope it will get members to arrive in the loft and ready to go by 4:15.)

Introit: Omnis terra

Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass VIII

Credo III (mp3)

Offertory: Jubilate Deo, O Sanctissima (Latin only)

Communio: Dicit Dominus, O Sacrum Convivium (takes a few seconds for the actual singing to start)

Recessional: I Sing The Mighty Power Of God (still Adoremus)

The Calendar, Mismarked Music, and Very Little Notice

Quick notes, as it were, from Tuesday:

• A couple of calendar updates: We will be singing on SATURDAY, February 6 at St. Michael's in Stead. (I know, "instead of what?" Instead of not singing that weekend, I guess.) We've also been asked to sing at a wedding at the Cathedral on SATURDAY, June 18.
• Facepalm Department: Kathy said she had to destroy a Liber Cantualis because some choir member had the brilliant idea of marking it up...in INK. Don't. Do. That. There is simply no reason for an ink pen to be anywhere near any music in this choir; use pencils. The sanity you save may be Kathy's.
• Finally, the reason for the above image: Kathy wants you to check your calendars against ours (above and to the right) and please, please, PLEASE tell her AS SOON AS YOU KNOW you cannot make a rehearsal and/or Mass. It affects the music she chooses and how she arranges the seating. Telling her at a Tuesday rehearsal you won't be there this coming Sunday is not helpful when you knew this weeks before. If you just found out yourself, that's different. (In case you were wondering, no, you don't have to submit a leave request form. Yet.)
• Oh, and I almost forgot: If you don't want to fumble for the ordinaries in your Liber Cantualis or deal with the inopportune page turns therein, you may print them in easier-to-read PDF sheets from this site. Just scroll down to where it says "Ordinary of the Mass." At worst, you'll have maybe one page turn for the Gloria or Credo. I've printed Masses I, IV, VIII, XI, XVII, and XVIII, along with Credos I and III. Corpus Christi Watershed has PDFs that put each piece onto a single sheet, but the type is smaller.

January 10: Baptism Of The Lord

8 AM at St. Peter Canisius. Bring the Adoremus and leave the SMH home.

Introit: Dilexisti iustitiam

Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass XI

Gloria: Missa Lauda Sion (Palestrina)

Offertory: Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord

Communion: Ave Verum Corpus (Josquin) (midi; we're only singing the first 1:28; parts broken out also)

Recessional: Songs of Thankfulness and Praise

Tombe la Neige, Encore

El Nino is bringing us more snow for tomorrow. I know Kathy will not want to cancel this rehearsal, especially with four consecutive Sundays of singing coming up. If we don't rehearse tomorrow night, we'd be looking at this Sunday's music for the first time just before Sunday's Mass at St. Peter Canisius. That, or we (possibly) cram into her house on some other night/day this week. Still, you never know how bad the roads will be.

So, to reiterate again: [1]

• Use your discretion in getting to rehearsal.
• Tell Kathy ASAP by phone or email if you are planning not to attend because of the weather.
• Kathy will notify us of any cancellation by email to those who have it, and by phone to those who don't.

[1] By order of the RPC Department of Redundancy Department, next door to the Snow Panic Office in the RPC Tower.

Happy New Year

May you and yours, and we collectively as Regina Pacis Cantorum, have a blessed 2016. I'll take this opportunity to solicit your contributions to this site, including but not limited to:

• Articles about chant, polyphony, and/or the Latin Mass.
• Photos of us singing.
• Music- or choir-related cartoons or other forms of humor, especially if it relates somehow (even vaguely) to RPC.
• Any musical endeavors you're involved in outside RPC. Don't be afraid to toot your own horn! Besides, how can any of us support you if we don't know it's happening?
• Any appearances you make in the media, like this, this, this, and this.
• Prayer requests.
• Milestones you'd like us to know about, the joyful and the sad (see also: prayer requests).

You may email me at pault3331 AT gmail DOT com. (done to discourage spammers)

Remember this is a public blog, accessible by anyone. I often include texts of emails Kathy sends around, but not all the text is appropriate in a public forum, so I usually edit them.