Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast
You’ve got questions about sacred music? Here’s your chance to learn what the Church teaches and envisions for music in the sacred liturgy.
Welcome to Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast with your host Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka. We address topics of interest both to priests and liturgical musicians, as well as a general audience of Catholics interested in learning more about the Catholic Church’s teachings and treasury of sacred music. Our topics range from discussion of Church documents on sacred music, to the music of certain composers or eras, Gregorian chant, the role of music in Catholic education, and techniques for directing a better choir rehearsal. We’ll interview bishops, priests, music directors, composers, teachers, philosophers, and theologians. We’ll talk to people who found a home in the Catholic Church because they heard the call of Christ in the Church’s sacred music. We’ll ask questions about how really great music programs are doing their work. We’ll introduce you to Catholics who love their faith and, through sacred music, offer all their efforts for his glory and the sanctification of all who hear them.
We aim for our podcast to be thoughtful, encouraging, and informative. We hope, too, that it will inspire and motivate you to work for the renewal of authentic beauty in sacred music—whether you’re a working church musician or an average Catholic in the pews wondering what’s going on. With the prayers of our patronesses, Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom and Saint Elisabeth of the Trinity, we hope to help draw souls to Christ through the beauty of the Church’s sacred music.
Square Notes is the official podcast of the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music. http://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/
Latest episodes
Feb 18, 2025 • 36min
SE07 EP02 - How Did the Parts of the Mass Ordinary Get Arranged into Groups in the Kyriale? with Dr. Andrew Kirkman
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Andrew Kirkman, a Professor at the University of Birmingham and director of the Banshoi Consort, dives into the fascinating evolution of the Kyriale and its arrangement of the Mass Ordinary. He explains how historical factors influenced its structure, tracing its journey from oral traditions to standardization by the 1908 Vatican edition. Kirkman also highlights the significant contributions of the Franciscans and the impact of early polyphonic practices on present-day liturgy, revealing the enduring influence of sacred music on worship.
Feb 12, 2025 • 53min
SE07 EP01 - Building a Great School & Parish Sacred Music Program in a Rural Community - with Kelsey LaCour
We're back with season 7 and we've got an inspiring story of building up people, a parish and school, and fostering vocations through a sacred music education program and some elbow grease. Listeners can learn more about the program profiled in this episode, and access LaCour's free-use lesson plans and resources by visiting http://epiphanysacredmusic.org, or by visiting their YouTube Channel: @epiphanysacredmusic. Find out more about the Fons et Culmen Sacred Liturgy Summit here: http://liturgysummit.org/ Find out more about the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music here: http://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/
Jun 19, 2024 • 37min
SE06 EP17 - The “Viennese” Orchestral Mass and the Work of Johann Michael Haydn - with Dr. Erick Arenas
The 18th century orchestral mass repertoire comes with all sorts of questions for the liturgical musician. Is this repertoire properly called "Viennese"? Does this music really fit, in style and length, with the sacred liturgy? What does the Church have to say about this style of music? Are there any of these Masses that I can do with my choir? Dr. Erick Arenas of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music joins us to answer these questions, and to talk about the wonderful oeuvre of Johann Michael Haydn, the younger brother of the more famous Haydn. To learn more about Dr. Arenas, click here: https://sfcm.edu/study/faculty/erick-arenas To learn more about the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music, please visit: http://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/
Jun 19, 2024 • 50min
SE06 EP16 - Music and the Eucharistic Revival - with Bishop Earl Fernandes
For Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio, sacred music and the Eucharistic revival are inextricably linked. When he was consecrated bishop at age 49 in 2022, he was the U.S.'s youngest bishop, and his experience with sacred music as a young person involved a mix of typical U.S. parish music, but also special liturgical and musical experiences sought out by his parents, and this has shaped in him a deep understanding of the importance of sacred music. Join us as we discuss the role he sees for sacred music in reviving faith in the presence of Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist.
Jun 6, 2024 • 45min
SE06 EP15 - Medieval Irish Chant: Sources and Liturgical Practice - with Dr. Ann Buckley
What do we know about music in the earliest liturgies celebrated in Ireland? Did sacred music and the liturgy develop as a distinguishable "Celtic rite" in Ireland? What impact did the Church in Ireland, and specifically the monastic impact of Ireland, have on the European continent? We discuss these and other questions with Dr. Ann Buckley, a visiting research fellow in the Medieval History Research Centre of Trinity College Dublin. To learn more about Dr. Buckley and her work, please visit: https://www.tcd.ie/medieval-history/expertise/ann-buckley.php To see an edition of the sequence for St. Patrick, edited by Dr. Buckley, click here: https://sacredmusicpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PATRICK_MS-78_Responsory.and_.prosa_.pdf To learn more about the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music, visit: http://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/
May 28, 2024 • 43min
SE06 EP14 - Liberal Arts and Fine Arts: Understanding the Trivium, Quadrivium, and the Place of Music in Catholic Education - with Mark Langley
Mark Langley, an expert in Catholic classical education, discusses the importance of music in education and the modern misconceptions hindering its proper recognition. He explores the significance of the Trivium and Quadrivium in shaping students' minds for deeper understanding. The conversation delves into Descartes' view on certitude, the interplay of liberal and fine arts, and the transformative power of music in education and character formation.
May 21, 2024 • 35min
SE06 EP13 - What is Sacred Music, & Why Does It Matter? with Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone
Join Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone in a discussion about the importance of sacred music in worship, exploring how it draws individuals closer to God, expresses emotions, blends tradition with innovation, impacts culture, and prepares hearts for the divine realm.
May 14, 2024 • 41min
SE06 EP12 - The Final Flowering of Late Renaissance Venetian Choral Music - with Charles Cole and the London Oratory Schola
Charles Cole discusses the impact of Venetian music on sacred choral music in the late Renaissance period and the music scene in Venice at St. Mark's Basilica. They explore the legacy of composers like Gabrielli and Bassano, the craftsmanship in Venice, and upcoming tours for the Palestrina 500 Festival.
May 6, 2024 • 34min
SE06 EP11 - Sacred Music and the “Sunday Experience" - with Bishop Michael Barber, SJ
Bishop Michael Barber discusses the role of sacred music in Mass experience, bridging cultural gaps, and why the Church invests in beauty. Exploring the impact of Gregorian chant, healing souls through art, and the enrichment of traditional music in young adult Masses. Addressing challenges faced by church musicians and the emotional influence of sacred music like Cantate Dominum.
Apr 30, 2024 • 38min
SE06 EP10 - Integrating Scholarship and Praxis in the Life of the Catholic Singer - with Dr Charles Weaver
Dr. Charles Weaver discusses the origins of chant editions, varying melodies, and rhythmic implications in Gregorian chant. He emphasizes integrating scholarship and praxis for Catholic singers. The podcast explores the impact of Vatican editions, variations in melodies, and the importance of creating authentic chant editions. Dr. Weaver previews the upcoming 'Advanced Seminar in Gregorian Chant', highlighting the fusion of academic study and practical application in Catholic singing.
