Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast

James Monti is an author in the fields of Catholic liturgy and hagiography. His books include A Sense of the Sacred: Roman Catholic Worship in the Middle Ages, The King’s Good Servant but God’s First: The Life and Writings of St. Thomas More, The Week of Salvation: History and Traditions of Holy Week, and In The Presence of Our Lord: The History, Theology, and Psychology of Eucharistic Devotion, the latter co-authored with Father Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR. He is a columnist for The Wanderer and Sacred Music. A member of the staff of the Corrigan Memorial Library of Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, New York, he is presently working toward the completion of a full-length biography of the Irish maiden Venerable Edel Mary Quinn of the Legion of Mary (1907-1944) and a comprehensive work on the liturgical ceremonies of the Roman Rite as they were celebrated both universally and locally following the Council of Trent, during the Baroque Era (c. 1568-1799).

Join us for an episode highlighting the spiritual fruits that flow from following the Church's pastoral guidance in the celebration of the liturgy. We talk about Musicam Sacram, the document's pastoral plan with three degrees of singing, the spiritual impact of the clergy singing their parts of the Mass, and even a little bit about how to fundraise for your music program.  Our guest is Fr. Nathan Cromly, CSJ, founder and director of the Saint John Institute in Denver, Colorado. Visit the website of the Institute at https://www.saintjohninstitute.org/. His podcast, Dare Great Things for Christ, is available on all major podcast outlets. 

Join us in this episode for a discussion about St. Cecilia, and the liturgies and sacred music of Rome.  Gregory DiPippo is the Editor of the New Liturgical Movement blog. He lives and works in the eternal city of Rome, sharing his breadth of knowledge of the liturgical traditions of the Church with people across the globe.

Robert Cardinal Sarah was appointed by Pope Francis in 2014 as the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He has said of his efforts for the renewal of the sacred liturgy that “Pope Francis has asked me to continue the extraordinary liturgical work Pope Benedict began.” Cardinal Sarah is the author of three interview books with Nicolas Dait: God or Nothing (2015), The Power of Silence (2017), and The Day is Now Far Spent (2019). You can follow Cardinal Sarah on Facebook and Twitter.

Robert Cardinal Sarah was appointed by Pope Francis in 2014 as the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He has said of his efforts for the renewal of the sacred liturgy that "Pope Francis has asked me to continue the extraordinary liturgical work Pope Benedict began." Cardinal Sarah is the author of three interview books with Nicolas Dait: God or Nothing (2015), The Power of Silence (2017), and The Day is Now Far Spent (2019). You can follow Cardinal Sarah on Facebook and Twitter.

Dr. Timothy P. O’Malley is the Director of Education at the McGrath Institute for Church Life, where he also serves as Academic Director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy. He teaches and researches at Notre Dame in the areas of liturgical-sacramental theology, catechesis, and aesthetics. He is the author of numerous articles and books, most recently, the forthcoming Divine Blessing: Liturgical Formation in the RCIA. Read more about Tim’s work at the Church Life Journal, especially this helpful article about the participation of children in the liturgy: “The Liturgy is for (Little) Kids.”

Juilliard-trained James Wetzel is one of the most respected Catholic church musicians in New York City. In this episode, we ask James about his work as the director of music and organist at the Dominican parish of Saint Vincent Ferrer and Saint Catherine of Siena. His professional Schola Cantorum is renowned for keeping very much alive the “Church’s treasure of sacred music” for the worship of God in the sacred liturgy. James also shares his perspective and advice on how priests and music directors can take steps to build up the sacred music programs at parishes.   James’ Biography James D. Wetzel is the Director of Music and Organist of the Parish of Saint Vincent Ferrer and Saint Catherine of Siena on Manhattan’s Upper East Side where he directs the professional Schola Cantorum in over 70 services annually. James served from 2010-2015 as the Organist and Choirmaster of midtown’s Church of Saint Agnes and from 2011-2016 was an adjunct lecturer in Hunter College’s music department. Since 2010, he has also been the Assistant Conductor for the Greenwich Choral Society in Connecticut. Additionally, he holds a post as Assisting Organist at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine where he formerly served as Organ Scholar under Bruce Neswick. Mr. Wetzel is active as an organist and continuo player, having performed at the Berkshire Choral Festival and with the Collegiate Chorale, the Orchestra of Saint Luke’s, the American Symphony Orchestra, the American Classical Orchestra, the National Chorale, and the Paul Winter Consort. He is the sub-dean and chairman of the programming committee of the New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, a board member of the Catholic Artists Society, and a member of the New York Purgatorial Society and the Society for Catholic Liturgy. Born in Pittsburgh, James earned a bachelor’s degree in organ performance from The Juilliard School where he studied with Paul Jacobs and was the first person ever to graduate with a master’s degree and a professional studies certificate in choral conducting from Manhattan School of Music under Kent Tritle. He also studied privately with Donald K. Fellows and Robert Page and spent a year reading Early Christianity and Apologetics at Columbia University. Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Catherine of Siena website: http://www.svsc.info

Rev. Fr. Jude Orakwe is a lecturer at the music department of Anambra State University (a.k.a. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University). He is also the founder and director of Shanahan Institute of Music of Onitsha Archdiocese (for adults) as well as of the George Handel Music Academy (for the children) of St. Joseph’s Parish Odoakpu Onitsha. He directs the Archdiocesan choir and is also the music director of St. Joseph’s Parish Choir. Fr. Orakwe has his doctorate in ethnomusicology from Indiana University, Bloomington, United States, as well as a Master’s degree in Sacred Music from the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music Rome, Italy. In this episode, we discuss Fr. Jude Orakwe’s musical initiatives in Nigeria, his personal experiences of music and faith, and also aspects of musical and liturgical inculturation. If you would like to financially support Fr. Jude Orakwe’s musical initiatives you can do so via Paypal, either at jorakwe@indiana.edu or jatomaria@gmail.com.

For this episode, we are joined by the renowned Catholic composer Kevin Allen. Kevin has written a large repertoire of sacred choral music for the Church’s liturgy and shares with us his insights into creating new works of art for the liturgy, as well as his advice for Catholic artists today. Kevin Allen’s O Sacrum Convivium Kevin Allen’s Domine Non Sum Dignus Kevin Allen’s sheet music Kevin Allen’s on Facebook Kevin Allen’s choir, Schola Laudis

We’re joined by Philadelphia musician and educator Lisa Knutson for a discussion of the Jesuit missions in South America and how the missionary spirit, artistic craftsmanship, and education in beauty offered by the Jesuits in the 17th century can inspire the heart of the modern missionary to bring Christ to the poor through sacred music and music education. The Zipoli Institute has a lot of great resources available for musicians, especially for those working with Spanish-language choirs and liturgies. Check out the work of Lisa and her husband Nathan in the Zipoli Institute here: https://domenicozipoli.org This article from the New York Times on the legacy of the music education of the Jesuits in Bolivia is also an interesting glimpse into the continuing fruits of the work of the missionaries: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/world/americas/bolivia-baroque-music.html And here are some great recordings of the music of Domenico Zipoli, SJ: Vespers for the Feast of St. Ignatius: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRSGo6hgn3k Sacred Opera on the Life of St. Ignatius: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARlTk7UJjbs Listen to a bit of a concert sung by the sisters, brothers, and priests of the Institute of the Incarnate Word: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6YqTr7yPsY