https://tinyurl.com/AveReginaCaelrumSolemn In this (advanced) episode, learn the SOLEMN TONE of the Marian antiphon for the season from the Presentation to Easter. A new liturgical season, a new Marian antiphon! This antiphon dates back to around the year 1200, possibly earlier if, as it has been suggested, it was composed by our old friend Herman the Cripple: the author of Salve Regina and Alma Redemptoris mater, two of the other Marian antiphons (also of Veni Sancte Spiritus…the dude was proli...
Feb 28, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Propers of the Year: A series of episodes in which we provide instruction and practice for more advanced chanters who are interested in preparing the Gregorian propers for each Sunday of the liturgical year. In this episode, Thomas teaches you the chants for the 1st Sunday of Lent. Links to PDF's for each chant (courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed): Introit: https://archive.ccwatershed.org/media/pdfs/11/03/03/14-43-47_0.pdf Gradual: https://archive.ccwatershed.org/media/pdfs/11/03/03/21-42-27_0...
Feb 24, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 31
https://tinyurl.com/ASolisOrtus A poem written more than 1500 years ago, this is one of the oldest known Catholic hymns. It recounts the story of Jesus from his Birth through his Ascension. Each of the 23 verses begins with the next letter of the Roman alphabet. This kind of poem is called an abecedarius, and it’s a type of acrostic. The earliest known abecedaria are from the Bible, and if you attend Tenebrae during Holy Week you’ll hear the Lamentations of Jeremiah, in which each letter of the ...
Feb 21, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 30
https://tinyurl.com/TotaPulchra Although this hymn to Mary does date back to the 4th century (shortly after the life of St. Valentine) it has never been a Valentine's Day Poem...until today. In this Valentine's Day episode, we learn this extremely simple, very ancient ode to Mary -- completely beautiful, unstained by original sin, the joy of Israel, glory of Jerusalem, our advocate and our Mother. Tota pulchra es, Maria. Et macula originalis non est in Te. Tu gloria Ierusalem. Tu laetitia Israel...
Feb 14, 2022•14 min•Season 1Ep. 29
https://tinyurl.com/orbisfactor Welcome to our new series: Ordinary Chanting. In this series, we will learn all of the common chant Mass settings of the Ordinary of the Mass: the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, as well as some Credo's and Ite Missa Est's. We begin with Mass XI, Orbis Factor, because it is commonly used throughout the year, and is not intended for any particular feast or season.
Feb 11, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 28
https://tinyurl.com/avereginacaelorum A new liturgical season, a new Marian antiphon! This antiphon dates back to around the year 1200, possibly earlier if, as it has been suggested, it was composed by our old friend Herman the Cripple: the author of Salve Regina and Alma Redemptoris mater, two of the other Marian antiphons (also of Veni Sancte Spiritus…the dude was prolific). Herman was born a cripple and with a cleft palate and a paralytic disease so that he had great difficulty moving and cou...
Feb 07, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 27
https://tinyurl.com/lumenad Happy Feast of the Presentation of Jesus, Candlemas, Purification/Churching of Mary! In this bonus episode, you'll learn a simple version of the Canticle of Simeon that is traditionally sung during the Mass for the feast, but can also be sung at night prayer throughout the year. And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male t...
Feb 02, 2022•10 min•Season 1Ep. 26
https://tinyurl.com/oluxbeata This short hymn is attributed to St. Ambrose in the 4th Century. St. Ambrose, a Roman Governor suddenly elected Bishop, is one of the Doctors of the Church. He is perhaps best known for helping to convert and baptize St. Augustine. St. Ambrose has been called “The Father of Church Hymnody,” and the hymns of St. Ambrose are some of the oldest, if not the oldest complete Latin Hymns we have today. There are only four hymns which are universally accepted as being from ...
Jan 31, 2022•16 min•Season 1Ep. 25
https://tinyurl.com/verbumsupernumprodiens St. Thomas Aquinas was a theologian, a philosopher, and one of the greatest intellects of all time. He is known as the Angelic Doctor of the Church. But did you know he is also regarded as one of the greatest Catholic poets of all time? And he only wrote 5 poems – 38 stanzas of poetry. In 1264, Pope Urban IV established the Solemnity of The Body of Christ, and asked St. Thomas Aquinas to write the texts for the Mass and the Divine Office for this new fe...
Jan 24, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 24
PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons The LAST in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat. Latin: O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster. English: O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and...
Dec 23, 2021•7 min•Season 1Ep. 23
PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons The SIXTH in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat. Latin: O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti. English: O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone...
Dec 22, 2021•9 min•Season 1Ep. 22
PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons The FIFTH in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat. Latin: O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis. English: O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come ...
Dec 21, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 21
PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons The FOURTH in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat. Latin: O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis. English: O Key of...
Dec 20, 2021•8 min•Season 1Ep. 20
PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons The THIRD in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat. Latin: O radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem Gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare. English: O Root of Jesse, standing as a s...
Dec 19, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 19
PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons The SECOND in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat. Latin: O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento. English: O Adonai, and leader of the House of ...
Dec 18, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 18
PDF of the the antiphons: https://tinyurl.com/thegreatantiphons The first in a seven-day series in which we learn the "O Antiphons." These beautiful chants date back to the 8th century, and are traditionally sung on the last 7 days leading up to Christmas, during Vespers just before the Magnificat. O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae. O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the ...
Dec 17, 2021•11 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Propers of the Year: A series of episodes in which we provide instruction and practice for more advanced chanters who are interested in preparing the Gregorian propers for each Sunday of the liturgical year. Please let us know what you think! In this episode, Thomas teaches you the chants 4th Sunday of Advent (Rorate Sunday). The time for each section is listed below, along with links to PDF's for each chant (courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed): Introit: https://tinyurl.com/roratecaelidesuper ...
Dec 16, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Propers of the Year: A series of episodes in which we provide instruction and practice for more advanced chanters who are interested in preparing the Gregorian propers for each Sunday of the liturgical year. Please let us know what you think! In this episode, Giorgio sings through the chants for Gaudete Sunday. He sings through chant slowly, highlights difficult sections, and sings through it slowly again. The time for each section is listed below, along with links to PDF's for each chant (court...
Dec 11, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Link to music: https://tinyurl.com/nasceturprote Although Veni, Veni, Emmanuel as a whole only dates back to the 17th century, its origins are much more ancient. This hymn, perhaps the best known Advent hymn of all time, is a combination of the O Antiphons which are at least 1200 years old. Based on prophecies about Jesus from Isaiah all the way through Zachariah, these antiphons were sung before the Magnificat during Vespers: one on each of the last seven days before Christmas: 17 December: O S...
Dec 09, 2021•16 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Link to the music: https://tinyurl.com/conditoralme This is one of the most ancient hymns we've sung so far, dating back to the 7th century! It was revised over 1000 years later because it didn't follow the rules for Latin poetry, and to remove a single Greek word: hagie ( holy). Although the translation is usually rendered: Creator of the stars of night, siderum is not precisely the same as the more common stella . Siderum includes the notion of sun, moon, planets, and all the constellations of...
Dec 08, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Propers of the Year: A series of episodes in which we provide instruction and practice for more advanced chanters who are interested in preparing the Gregorian propers for each Sunday of the liturgical year. Please let us know what you think! In this episode, Giorgio sings the propers for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Click below for PDF's of the chants: Introit (1:15): https://tinyurl.com/gaudensgaudebo Gradual (9;40): https://tinyurl.com/benedictaestuvirgo Alleluia: (18:15) https...
Dec 08, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Propers of the Year: A series of episodes in which we provide instruction and practice for more advanced chanters who are interested in preparing the Gregorian propers for each Sunday of the liturgical year. Please let us know what you think! In this episode, Giorgio sings through each chant slowly, highlights difficult sections, and sings through it slowly again. The time for each section is listed below, along with links to PDF's for each chant (courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed): Introit: ...
Nov 29, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Link to sheet music: https://tinyurl.com/adorote St. Thomas Aquinas was a theologian, a philosopher, and one of the greatest intellects of all time. He is known as the Angelic Doctor of the Church. But did you know he is also regarded as one of the greatest Catholic poets of all time? And he only wrote 5 poems – 38 stanzas of poetry. In 1264, Pope Urban IV established the Solemnity of The Body of Christ, and asked St. Thomas Aquinas to write the texts for the Mass and the Divine Office for this ...
Nov 24, 2021•21 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Link to sheet music: https://tinyurl.com/almaredemptorissolemn As promised, here is a bonus episode for the adventurous who want to learn the solemn tone of the Alma Redemptoris Mater. As you'll see, it is much more difficult to sing than the simple tone, but it is proportionally more fulfilling to sing and to hear! In fact, this may very well be the most beautiful chant ever written....enjoy! LATIN: ALMA Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti, Surger...
Nov 23, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Link to the sheet music: https://tinyurl.com/almaredemptorismater Happy New Year and welcome to one of our favorite musical Liturgical Seasons – ADVENT. It’s not just because Christmas is around the corner and we’re brushing up on our favorite Christmas chants and carols: there is beautiful music for Advent as well, full of yearning for the Incarnation and rejoicing in the “Yes” of our Blessed Mother. When the calendar turns from Ordinary Time to Advent, the Marian Antiphon traditionally sung at...
Nov 23, 2021•18 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Propers of the Year: A new series of episodes in which we provide instruction and practice for more advanced chanters who are interested in preparing the Gregorian propers for each Sunday of the liturgical year. Please let us know what you think! In this episode, Giorgio sings through each chant slowly, highlights difficult sections, and sings through it slowly again. At the end of the episode, he sings through all the propers at normal speed. The time for each section is listed below, along wit...
Nov 23, 2021•48 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Link to sheet music: https://tinyurl.com/tesaeculorum Learn to sing Te Saeculorum Principem. We’re coming up on the end of the liturgical year, and we want to teach you this lovely hymn for the Solemnity of Christ the King. Now this feast is only 100 years old, so this is not technically an ancient chant of the church, but its beautiful poetry and marvelous melody recommend it us. This chant is from Vespers for the feast of Christ the King, but since this is not usually sung anymore (SAD!) this ...
Nov 22, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Learn to sing Salve Regina. This beautiful Marian Antiphon is traditionally sung after the Rosary and after Night Prayer during Ordinary time. Mary has also revealed in visions that this is one of her favorites! Link to sheet music: https://tinyurl.com/simpletonesalveregina Lyrics and Translation Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ, Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, ill...
Nov 06, 2021•20 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Learn to sing Jesu Dulcis Memoria (Chant link: https://tinyurl.com/jesudulcis ). A hymn used in the liturgy of the hours on the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, with 53 verses! Thankfully the melody repeats... Link to lyrics and translation: https://tinyurl.com/JesuDulcisLyrics
Oct 24, 2021•10 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Learn to sing the Ave Verum (Chant link: https://tinyurl.com/corpusnatum ), one of the greatest Eucharistic hymns from the Middle Ages. It was long traditional to sing this hymn during the elevation of the Eucharist, and it has since been set by many of the most prominent polyphonic composers -- Byrd, Mozart, to name a few. This chant predates them all and was their inspiration. Ave, verum corpus natum de Maria Virgine: vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine: cuius latus perforatum fluxit aq...
Oct 23, 2021•19 min•Season 1Ep. 3
