King's College Cambridge - What Sweeter Music

What Sweeter Music by John Rutter performed by the King's College Cambridge. The melodic phrases and harmonies blend blissfully into pure light to summon the angels to adore as we all must. Thank you for your prayers may God Bless Us All. Amen.

Ave Verum Corpus

"Hail, true Body" (of Christ) is the translated title of Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus. This is, a glorious work of Faith which, in my opinion, sums up the basis of our Catholic doctrine. Greg Labus while codirector of the Corpus Christi Cathedral choirs best described this work as the "Alma Mater" of the cathedral (of sorts). It is my hope and prayer that the Lord Bless Father Labus in his ministry, that he may glorify God alway; may Greg hear the Choirs of Angels and may they be his divine inspiration to praise God through sung prayer. Amen.

Practice, Polish, Perfect...

As Americans, we often see things from a different view point than the rest of the world. If a song is twenty years old, it is a classic; never mind whether twenty years ago it was popular or not, it is still considered a classic. A few years ago, I had the rare opportunity to tour Europe with a church choral group. It was eye opening. What to us is antique or classic, doesn't compare in the "old world". One of the major differences I saw, was the still standard hymn usage for the assembly and the choral masterpiece for meditative prayer. It was a comfort to hear people of all types sing hymns older that the United States with still as much life and meaning as when they were first written.

In the U.S. we tend to sing songs of praise because they are in fashion or because they are the favorite (usually because the musician can play it) of the music group that is "performing" at church. I have on many occasions heard musicians/choir directors ask each other, "what are we singing today?" (usually 5 minutes before Mass begins). And we wonder, why we don't feel anything as Mass with regards to the music. As a church musician, I believe that music for the Liturgy (Mass) should be the best that we can offer. It should require practice, polishing, perfection, but never "performance". If it is performances that motivate a musician, than the church is NOT the place to do it. Music should be a service and offering to the Almighty who gave us the gift of music to use for His glory.

That is why we should do all that we can to preserve the beauty of traditional music for the assembly to join in sung prayer. The hymns should reflect (tie in with) the readings of the day and invite the congregation to pray (sing) the psalmody. If a choral piece is used, it is intended to uplift the silent prayer (meditation) during a special time in the Liturgy such as after communion as people kneel (not sit) in reverence after receiving the Eucharist (true Body of Christ).

Next time you see your church musician, first of all thank them for serving in a music ministry; second, tell them which songs you enjoy singing with them; third, ask them to sing an old favorite hymn so that your children and you do not lose the beauty of the classic favorite hymn heritage of our church, and if that musician is you...practice, polish, perfect, and serve. May God Bless You. St. Cecilia, pray for us.

St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians.

Amazing Grace

If words alone could lift the heart, then consider those uplifting phrases set to music. Since the creation of man, we have strived to give thanks, praise, honor, gratitude, glory, and love to our Lord. It seems that only through the silence of meditation; we may trully find His Word. Yet often we are swept away by a whisper of a song. The beating of our hearts pounds all the more loudly and our emotions soar as our spirits rise heavenward to embrace God...then trully it is His Amazing Grace that empowers us to seek and to find God through sung prayer. Sacred music is not words, nore notes, or even beautiful melodies. It is the union of mind, heart, spirit, and hope that helps us transend our daily existance and be brought out of darkness into the Holy Light. Therefore it is much more appropriate so say, "...I once was lost; but now am found, was blind; but now I see."