May 29: Corpus Christi

Aside from the June 18 wedding, this is our last Mass of the season. Whereas recent Corpus Christi Masses were in the EF, this one will be Novus Ordo, but we'll still be busy.

Introit: Cibavit eos (T/B: mp3)

Kyrie, Gloria (mp3), Sanctus, Agnus Dei: Mass VIII

Sequence: Lauda Sion

Credo III (mp3)

Offertory: Portas coeli (S/A mp3), Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Communio: Hoc corpus, Ave Verum Corpus (Mozart/Main), and this piece

Closing: Father We Thank Thee Who Has Planted

Kyra's Spaghetti Feed

Short fuse on this one: Soprano Eleanor Walls informed us that there will be a fundraiser spaghetti feed this Friday night in the Cold Springs section of north Reno.

Kyra is a six year old with cancer.  Her family cannot afford her treatments. The community is doing a fundraiser to help.  A spaghetti dinner is being held this Friday from 5:30--8:00 at Cold Springs Middle School [map]. There is a need for servers for the food.  The servers do not set up or clean up and should check in at 5:00.

Please call me to confirm your volunteering at 775-722-6921. 

(ETA: More than $6,000 was raised for Kyra's family!)

Bravissimo!

To our Nancy, who refused to be intimidated by the Cathedral's organ and accompanied us without ever having played that particular organ before! Rumors that she will be touring with Rick Wakeman this summer have yet to be confirmed. 

From Nihil to Nikhil

You never know where you're going to find associations with chant. Last night, Kathy pointed out for the umpteenth time that the Latin word nihil (nothing) is actually pronounced "nee-keel" for our purposes, and mihi is "me-kee." Today, I was checking something on the New Jersey DMV (they call it the Motor Vehicle Commission, MVC) website. Imagine my surprise when the first thing I saw was this:

It turns out "Nikhil" is a male first name in India. I found this a fascinating coincidence, but as I read further, I discovered the sad reason why it was on the MVC site.

"Stop for Nikhil" refers to 11-year-old Nikhil Badlani (top) who was killed by a vehicle that rolled through a stop sign in 2011. Nikhil's Law took effect in New Jersey earlier this year:

Nikhil’s Law requires the Motor Vehicle Commission inform teenage drivers or the dangers of distracted driving in the driver’s manual and in the driver’s license examination. It also gives them the option to take the "STOP for Nikhil Safety Pledge" when getting their licenses. (Daily Record)

The Nikhil Badlani Foundation not only focuses on traffic safety education but also low-cost music education and scholarships for needy children. Nikhil was a budding musician (!) and actor and was already well aware of traffic violations before his death.

So give some second thought before making that so-called "California stop," even in your own neighborhood; I see it done in my development all the time. Had it not been for chant and "nee-keel," I might have ignored this important story.

Kathy's Paper Trail

It's nice to know that Kathy has nothing to worry about when it comes to organizing and filing RPC's music. After all, she has that full-time clerical assistant who puts every piece where it belongs, returns separated Communios to their propers, makes all the copies, etc.

...wait, what? Kathy DOESN'T have such an assistant? Never mind. (How did she manage all of this before she retired?)

If you really want to frazzle Kathy, make her "job" of music organization harder. Don't follow her directions on how to stack your music at the beginning of rehearsal or the end of Mass. Put other music she isn't asking for among the piles, even in a separate pile (yes, I've done that one). Forget to include the Communios with the verses inside the corresponding propers. Turn in music that doesn't need to be turned in, or at least not yet. And so on. Check out these other ways to get on Kathy's bad side.

Let's run down what you need to do with what at the end of the season.

Things NOT To Turn In (That Is, You Keep Them)

• Books/booklets (but these should be returned if you leave RPC. More on that later):
• Adoremus
• St. Michael's Hymnal
• Liber Cantualis
• St. Gregory Hymnal*
• Chormisik der Caecilianer* (the "green book")
• Chants of the Roman Missal* (English)
• Sheet music of:
• Asperges Me/Vidi Aquam
• The eight Gloria Patri tones*
• Gospel Acclamations, Sundays of the Year I
• Memorial Acclamation*
• Repleatur
• Tutorial sheets on:
• Latin pronunciation (vowels, consonants)
• Solfege
• Mechanics of the Chant/Gregorian Chant Notation
• Any personal copies of any music (throw away or recycle; please don't confuse Kathy)
• Any schedule printouts (likewise)

*If you have it.

Things To Turn In (Most Of Which Probably Should Have Been Turned In Sometime Over The Past Eight Months)

• Other Gospel Acclamation sheets besides SotY I
• Psalms in numerical order
• Propers (with the corresponding Communio inside)
• Holy Thursday or Easter Sunday booklets
• Hymns or motets in alphabetical order, but NOT if they're going to be used for Pentecost or Corpus Christi; check first

Please erase any pencil marks you make on each of these pieces of music unless you want Kathy to give you back the same copy next year or in a future year; in that case, put your name on the front of each piece in pencil.

By the way, some of you reading this blog still have choir robes and music books even though you have long since left RPC, or you know someone else who does. What on earth are you/they planning to do with them? Please arrange, or have that person arrange, to return them to Kathy. That'll be one less thing to go to confession for.

Have A Great Trip

Deacon Russ Bergin and his wife encouraged us today before Mass at St. Peter Canisius, a venue where we enjoy singing and the congregation seems to enjoy hearing us (and where it didn't snow anytime we were there this year!). He and other local deacons are heading to Rome for the next three weeks to see their "boss" Pope Francis, as Deacon Russ put it. That's not much of an exaggeration, considering deacons serve the bishop and the bishop answers to the Pope.

Deacon Russ told us they drew lots, and two lucky/blessed deacons will get to serve at Mass with the Holy Father. He admitted he was glad he was not one of those selected, saying he would be too nervous! We shall keep the deacons in our prayers, especially that the Lord's will be done through them during this visit.

May 15: Pentecost Sunday

At the Cathedral, 4 PM.

Introit: Spiritus Domini

Kyrie, Gloria, Agnus Dei: Missa Prima (Haller; mp3s)

Sequence: Veni Sancte Spiritus

Credo III

Offertory: Confirma hoc

Come Down, O Love Divine

Sanctus: Mass VIII

Communio: Factus est repente

Factus est repente de carlo sonus (Handl)

Recessional: Come Holy Ghost (handout)