The search for new styles or canons of artistic expression in the liturgy throughout the 19th and 20th centuries produced varied results, with some styles possessing little beauty or appropriateness for the sacred liturgy, while others captured something timeless and beautiful while utilizing a modern artistic grammar. The Beuron School, centered at a German Benedictine abbey, is a representative of the latter, and produced artworks of enduring beauty. Join Emily Sottile, the director of the Sacred Space Studio at Evergreene Architectural Arts, as we explore the ideas and canons of Desiderius Lenz and Gabriel Wüger, the founders of the Beuronese School.  To learn more about Emily's work, please visit: https://evergreene.com/people/emily-sottile/ To learn more about the summer sacred music program at St. Joseph's Seminary, go to: https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes

Looking for some great new repertoire for your parish choir? Join Dr. Aaron James from the Toronto Oratory as we discuss resources and tips for building up a body of pieces that your choir can sing well, and his suggestions for a few lesser-known motets that work well with amateur choirs.  Check out the YouTube page of the Toronto Oratory here: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheTorontoOratory  Learn more about Dr. James' music program here: https://oratory-toronto.org/holy-family-parish/choirs/ Find out more about summer sacred music courses at St. Joseph's Seminary here: https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes

Secular Music at Mass? In looking at how to deal with this issue now, it's important to understand how the Church and composers dealt with this issue in the past. Join us for an interview with Prof. Andrew Kirkman (University of Birmingham, Binchois Consort) as we look at the use of secular tunes in polyphonic masses of the 15th and early 16th centuries. Learn more about Prof. Andrew Kirkman here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/music/kirkman-andrew.aspx Check out the Binchois Consort here: https://www.binchoisconsort.com Find out more about the summer music program at St. Joseph's Seminary here: https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes

Are you interested in planning a really great event to introduce people to sacred music? This is the episode for you. We talk with Janet Gorbitz, General Manager of the Church Music Association of America, about the big idea behind an event, as well as the nuts and bolts of planning a successful workshop.  Janet's project-planning booklet: https://sacredmusicpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Chant-Workshop-Planning.pdf   Check out the website of the CMAA here: https://musicasacra.com   To learn more about summer sacred music courses at St. Joseph's Seminary, please visit https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes 

Join us for our season opener as we discuss leadership, service, formation, and what the word "pastoral" really means with the Archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore J. Cordileone.  For more information on the graduate summer sacred music program at St. Joseph's Seminary, visit https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes

What is the fundamental experience of music? How does a notated piece of music relate to that fundamental experience? What are the limits of musical notation in conveying sound? Why does all this matter for the Catholic musician? We look at these topics and more with Charles Weaver, who teaches in the historical performance program at Juilliard.  To learn more about the class Professor Weaver is teaching this summer, Medieval & Renaissance Music Notation Practicum, please visit: https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes

Join us for some good, old-fashioned love stories, the history behind finding a spouse in a Catholic choir, inspiration for lay vocations and family life, and the role singing can play in it all.  Check out summer sacred music study at St. Joseph's Seminary: https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes Take a look at the mission and work of the New York Metropolitan Catholic Chorale: https://nymcc.org  

We look to a great Spanish saint for inspiration in his holy life, devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament, and his care for the sacred liturgy and its accompanying sacred arts. St. Juan de Ribera (1532–1611) is an inspiring example of establishing foundations which take seriously the role of beauty in cultivating worship in the faithful, and inspiring them to love Christ in all they do, and especially in the Eucharist. Join us for this conversation with James Monti, a true devotee of this great saint, as we look for inspiration in prayer and patronage of the sacred arts. Articles about St. Juan de Ribera: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.14315/arg-2004-0108/html https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=4541898 Books about St. Juan de Ribera: https://www.google.com/books/edition/El_B_Juan_de_Ribera_y_el_R_Colegio_de_Co/FmkAAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Vida_del_beato_Juan_de_Ribera/eFmn2xPm3OUC?hl=en&gbpv=0 Writings of St. Juan de Ribera: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Constituciones_de_la_Capilla_del_Colegio/9gJcQwAACAAJ?hl=en Learn more about summer sacred music study at St. Joseph's Seminary: https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes  

Eminent chant scholar, Dr. Joseph Dyer, explains the Roman origins of Gregorian chant, the role of the Roman Schola Cantorum in the development of Roman chant, and what happened to that chant once it interacted with Franco-Gallican chant to become Gregorian chant. Join us for an episode which brings clarity to a complex history, and helps us better understand the roots of our Catholic sacred music traditions.  Follow Dr. Dyer's work at: https://um-boston.academia.edu/JosephDyer  Learn more about the summer sacred music study at St. Joseph's Seminary at: https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes

We venture east in this episode for a look at Russian Orthodox music that impacted the life and compositions of Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943). Dr. Richard Fountain, professor of piano at Wayland Baptist University and convert to Eastern Orthodoxy, shares with us some of his insights into Rachmaninoff's piano works and his compositions for the Divine Liturgy. Visit Dr. Fountain's webpage here: https://richardfountainpianist.com Performance credits: The Bells at St. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Howell, NJ, rung by hand. www.nevskys.com. View the complete video of Russian bell ringing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbn_Fzcxw3o Sergei Rachamaninoff, Suite No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 5, IV. Pâques. Allegro maestoso, in G minor. (Easter): Dr. Richard Fountain, piano. Rachmaninoff, Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 (for two pianos): Dr. Richard Fountain and Dr. James Rauscher, pianos; live recording in Harral Auditorium, Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, TX on October 12, 2010. Liturgy: Rev. Fr. Peter A. DeFonce, celebrant; Rachmaninoff Community Chorus, Dr. Richard Fountain, director; live recording in Harral Auditorium, Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, TX on April 18, 2013