Do you want to talk about living on the edge? "Few composers can boast on their curricula vitae," wrote R.J. Stove in Catholic World Report a few years ago, "a deliberate and successful avoidance of gelding. Haydn could." Indeed he could: it was only through the timely and forceful intervention of his father that … Continue reading Sacred Music With an Edge – “The Heavens Are Telling” from Haydn’s The Creation
The Drama of Salvation: Agnus Dei from Mozart’s Coronation Mass
Catholic Christianity has been blessed with a vast array of artists of every sort whose manifold talents have brought glory to God. There are poets as different as Dante Alighieri and Gerard Manley Hopkins, we have Carravaggios and Michelaengelos in the visual arts, and there are a whole list of Catholic composers including Monteverde, … Continue reading The Drama of Salvation: Agnus Dei from Mozart’s Coronation Mass
Things Old and New: Berthier’s “Laudate Dominum”
Jacques Berthier The Twentieth Century is known for many things, but beautiful art, whether in the visual arts or music, is not one of them. There are nonetheless some lovely creations hidden among the experimental and the transgressive and the deconstructed offerings cluttering the past century. You can hear one of those sparks of beauty in the … Continue reading Things Old and New: Berthier’s “Laudate Dominum”
Kyrie from Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis
When we think of Beethoven, Sacred Music might not be the first thing that comes to mind . . . but what he did compose was, as we might expect, moving, powerful, and simply beautiful.
God, We Praise You – Domenico Scarlatti’s “Te Deum” and Raphael’s “Disputation of the Holy Sacrament”
Domenico Scarlatti In the teaching world we have a saying: "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree". In other words, when we meet the parents, we often understand why our students are the way they are (my lovely bride often quotes this back to me when one of our children does something particularly egregious … Continue reading God, We Praise You – Domenico Scarlatti’s “Te Deum” and Raphael’s “Disputation of the Holy Sacrament”
Rossini-Agnus Dei (Petite Messe Solennelle)
Giaochino Rossini Giaochino Rossini was, in his time, considered the most successful composer of operas in history, creating such enduring favorites as The Barber of Seville, La Cenerentola, and William Tell. Then, having composed an astounding 39 operas before his 37th birthday in 1829, he simply stopped. For the rest of his life, until his … Continue reading Rossini-Agnus Dei (Petite Messe Solennelle)
Music Monday- ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ by Ola Gjeilo
My Monday Music selections are usually compositions from the treasury of Catholic sacred music, some of them centuries old. There are still some composers even today, however, who are composing music worthy of that tradition. A couple months ago I posted a setting to the "Te Deum" by Pedro Camacho. The words to the hymn … Continue reading Music Monday- ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ by Ola Gjeilo
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by J.S. Bach
I absolutely love J.S. Bach's Joy-filled celebration of Jesus Christ's love for humanity, "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring". Ash Wednesday is just two days away, so this is my last opportunity to get it in as a Music Monday selection before Lent. Bach composed this piece in 1723 as a part of his cantata Herz und … Continue reading “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by J.S. Bach
Ave Verum Corpus (William Byrd Composer)
The Verum Corpus, "True Body", refers to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Byrd published the composition in 1605. The hymn is beatifully sung . . .