with Stephen Brannen
Plainchant is the ancient, standard music of the Western tradition of the Church. It is traditionally monophonic (sung in unison), though it is sometimes harmonized and/or sung with accompaniment. It is sung without the time signatures of modern music (like 4/4 or 6/8), in a free meter.
Continue reading “A (Very Brief) Primer on Plainchant”
The Dies Irae is probably one of the most famous pieces in the entire repertoire of Latin chant. Its first opening notes have proven to be one of the most enduring musical phrases in our culture, prominently quoted by composers like Mozart, Haydn, Berlioz, and Rachmaninoff, and even in the film scores of movies from Citizen Cane and It’s Wonderful Life, to The Shining, Home Alone, The Lion King, Star Wars: A New Hope, and many, many more.
Continue reading “Day of Wrath – And Hope”
I’ve been fascinated for a while now with a particular artistic motif which depicts King David, ruler of ancient Israel and credited author of many of the Psalms, in the rapturous throes of composing. Many images of David with his harp/lyre can be found dating right back through the early middle ages, but many of these are also of a somewhat static, poised David. As art became more expressive of emotion in the Renaissance and beyond, the figure of David became more dramatic. And David, as an artistic figure, is particularly suited for drama.
Continue reading “Kinetic Composition”
Ad te levavi animam meam, or “Unto thee lift I up my soul” is the first chant of the first Sunday of the first season of the liturgical year in the West. This Introit (Entrance Chant) comes from Psalm 25 (24) and is meant to set the tone not just for this Sunday’s Mass, but for the whole season of Advent. What is it about the character of this psalm that makes it appropriate for this season?
Continue reading “Ad te levavi”
The season of Advent has arrived. But nothing kicks the legs out from under our observance of Advent like premature Christmas songs. Advent, of course, is the season leading up to Christmas, designed to focus us on the hope and expectation of Christ’s future advent (arrival) and the celebration of his first advent. The spirit of Advent, then, is of watchfulness and waiting. Because of this, Christmas songs are inappropriate to the spirit of the Advent season. They don’t jive; they’re incongruous.
Continue reading “Advent Music”As Western Rite churches and organizations continue to build up resources, one that deserves more attention is an album of choral music recorded by St. Patrick Orthodox Church in Bealeton, VA. This album’s the first of its kind (that I know of), providing an actual example of what a good Western Rite Orthodox choir can sound like. Scores and hymnals are well and good, but here in this recording is what the music sounds like, what it’s meant to be.
