Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast
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/
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/
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 2, 2021 • 42min
SE03 EP11 – The Origins of Gregorian Chant: The Roman Schola Cantorum and Old Roman Chant – with Dr. Joseph Dyer
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
Apr 18, 2021 • 50min
SE03 EP10 – Sergei Rachmaninoff and the Sounds of Russian Orthodoxy – with Dr. Richard Fountain
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
Apr 17, 2021 • 51min
SE03 EP09 - Liturgical Changes in Tudor England: Thomas Tallis’ Stable Position – with Dr. Kerry McCarthy
Join us for a guided tour through the liturgical changes of Reformation-era England through the lens of the composer Thomas Tallis. Our guest, Dr. Kerry McCarthy, offers a look at the challenges these times posed for musicians, for Catholics, and for the modern scholar studying them today. Buy Dr. McCarthy's book here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/tallis-9780190635213?cc=us&lang=en& Learn more about summer classes at St. Joseph's Seminary here: https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes
Apr 10, 2021 • 42min
SE03 EP08 – Pius X School of Liturgical Music: A Snapshot of Sacred Music Education in America – with Dr. Francis Brancaleone
What was sacred music in America like in the mid-20th century? Dr. Francis Brancaleone, former head of the department of music at Manhattanville College, shares with us his experience as a boy being educated in the Palestrina Institute of Liturgical Music in Detroit, and his research in the history of the remarkable Pius X School of Liturgical Music at Manhattanville College in New York. Read more from Dom Guéranger's Liturgical Year here: http://www.liturgialatina.org/lityear/ Subscribe to the CMAA's journal Sacred Music here: https://musicasacra.com/about-cmaa/membership/ Access the archives of Sacred Music here: https://musicasacra.com/journal/archives/ Access previous installments of Dr. Brancaleone's Chronicle of the Pius X School here: https://media.musicasacra.com/publications/sacredmusic/pdf/sm146-1.pdf https://media.musicasacra.com/publications/sacredmusic/pdf/sm145-1.pdf https://media.musicasacra.com/publications/sacredmusic/pdf/sm139-2.pdf Find out more about summer sacred music study at St. Joseph's Seminary here: https://www.dunwoodie.edu/dunwoodie-music-classes
Mar 27, 2021 • 47min
SE03 EP07 - Modality in Gregorian Chant - with Dr. William Mahrt
Do some aspects of the meaning in Gregorian chant seem difficult to understand? Join us as we take a look an approach to understanding the chant through understanding the music theory it's built on. Our guest today is Dr. William Mahrt of Stanford University. A few handouts for this episode are available here: https://sacredmusicpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Table-of-Modes.pdf https://sacredmusicpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Modes.pdf https://sacredmusicpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Archetypal-Melodies.pdf Check out the brochure for the summer sacred music classes at St. Joseph's Seminary: https://www.dunwoodie.edu/documents/2021/3/Summer-2021-Brochure%2018Mar2021.pdf
Dec 24, 2020 • 44min
SE03 EP06 – Dominican Chant – with Fr. Innocent Smith, O.P.
Join us for our Christmas special, highlighting chants of the Christmas midnight Mass with Dominican rite and chant expert, Fr. Innocent Smith, O.P. Innocent Smith, O.P., is a doctoral student in Liturgical Studies at the Universität Regensburg and is an associate member of DFG Research Group Metropolität in der Vormoderne. His research interests are at the intersection of liturgy and theology, including liturgical manuscripts, scholastic theology, ecclesiology, and sacred music. He is a Roman Catholic priest and a member of Province of St. Joseph of the Order of Preachers. He is presently assigned to the Priory of St. Kajetan in Munich, Germany, where he assists at the Theatinerkirche.
Dec 12, 2020 • 35min
SE03 EP05 – Swimming the Thames and the Tiber – with Dr. Jay Hershberger
Dr. Jay Hershberger joins us to share the story of his conversion to the Catholic faith by way of the Anglo-catholic tradition. We also discuss his work in developing the sacred music program at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo, North Dakota. Learn more about Dr. Hershberger here: https://www.concordiacollege.edu/directories/faculty-staff/details/dr-jay-a-hershberger/ View Dr. Hershberger's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/jayhershberger Listen to our season 2 interview with Dr. Hershberger which paints a Catholic portrait of Franz Liszt: https://sacredmusicpodcast.com/se02-ep15-a-catholic-portrait-of-abbe-franz-liszt-with-dr-jay-hershberger
Dec 5, 2020 • 39min
SE03 EP04 – Music of the Ordinariate – with Fr. James Bradley
Fr. James Bradley, J.C.D., an Assistant Professor of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America and priest of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, joins us to discuss his musical upbringing in the church of England and his conversion to Catholicism. Possessing a masterful knowledge of canon law, the sacred liturgy, and sacred music, he shares his thoughts about musical gems from the Anglican patrimony in the life of the Ordinariate, as well as their use in the Ordinary and Extraordinary forms of the Roman rite. Fr. Bradley's faculty webpage is available here: https://canonlaw.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/bradley-james-rev/index.html More information about the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter is available here: https://ordinariate.net Information about the Spring 2021 class "State Persecution of the Church in Modernity: An Historical Study through the Lenses of Source Documents and Film" co-taught with Dr. Jacek Nowicki at St. Joseph's Seminary is available here: https://jenniferdonelson.com/classes
Nov 29, 2020 • 43min
SE03 EP03 – Motets – with Dr. Aaron James
What is a motet? Where did this musical genre come from? What has the word "motet" meant throughout history? What can motets of the past teach us about incorporating non-obligatory texts into the sacred liturgy? How can the music and texts of motets make the other texts of the Mass, especially those of the lectionary, come to life? We explore these questions with Dr. Aaron James, the Director of Music for the Toronto Oratory of St Philip Neri, serving the music program at Holy Family Church in Toronto. He’s a graduate of the Eastman school of music, earning there both the PhD in musicology and a DMA in organ performance. He shares helpful scholarly insights which help illuminate the path for music directors as they make repertory choices. Too, we hear some recordings produced by the singers in his excellent parish music program. The Oratory's YouTube channel is available at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRRUmJAW2o_nh74VB3ijYxQ The website for the music program of the oratory is: https://oratory-toronto.org/holy-family-parish/choirs/
Nov 25, 2020 • 45min
SE03 EP02 - Growing up Catholic in China and Musical Life in the Church in China – with His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Zen
A brave man and heroic witness for the freedom and rights of the Church in China and Hong Kong, His Eminence, Joseph Cardinal Zen, joins us for a discussion about music while growing up in Shanghai, in his formation as a Salesian, and in seminaries in China.
