I added the final piece for Easter that we worked on last week. All of the pieces that we will be singing on Easter Sunday are posted. Just a note that we will be singing Missa de Angelis (found on the Mass Settings page) if they need to review, as our rehearsal time will be spent on our Feast Day pieces.

I can't believe that we only have TWO more rehearsals before Easter! We have some great music, and while they're doing a great job being attentive in rehearsal, the more we can reinforce that at home with them practicing with the videos, the better!

Also, to be clear, we DO have rehearsal at our regular time during Holy Week (3/27).

Thanks so much, and see you then!

Hello all!

I have now set up two new pages for Palm Sunday and Easter music, and the large majority of the music that we will be singing is posted. Some of these are more challenging two-part pieces, so the more time you can spend with the recordings, the better they will sound! I am convinced that the reason they sounded so fabulous at their last Mass was because they really had a lot of time to get comfortable with the music so they could really sing their hearts out...therefore, the more they listen and practice, the more easily this new music will come :)

Youtube Playlist for Palm Sunday:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ-fJQIyxXdnQ6axelvD-bwpJthN1TfuF&feature=view_all

Youtube Playlist for Easter Sunday:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ-fJQIyxXdmFm8xNCnEfPDpmXe1IqJ3r&feature=view_all

Just a quick note, we are only singing a bit for Palm Sunday, not the whole Mass. We will sing the Introit before Mass and then join in with the Procession around church with the palms. Then we will join the Adult Choir for one song in the middle of Mass (I'll sit down with the kids in the pews and lead them up at the correct time).

Also, this seems to come up every year, but despite it being Lent, we DO need to practice singing "alleluia." Outside of practicing, we should of course adhere to the Church's teaching to refrain from such a joyful expression. However, the Church does understand that we need to practice to be prepared to sing our best for Easter Sunday, and as you will notice in the music, there are a LOT of alleluias! :)

Enjoy!

To clarify, we have gone through page 20 in rehearsal so far, so everything should be colored through page 20.

The coloring assignments aren't too taxing... follow the instructions on the page for what to color. If there are no instructions, just color in the neumes/do-clef. In these cases, the neumes can be any color you would like, as long as they are grouped by syllable. (e.g. the two clivus notes would be the same color, or all the diamonds in an inclinatus should be the same color...). I hope you all are enjoying a fun way to learn about how to read chant! Like I told the kids, it's GREAT if they learn all the names for the neumes, but it is not required. My goal is for them to know how to SING them when they see them on the page :)

I know it's another thing to remember in your busy schedules, but I tried to create something that wouldn't be terribly invasive, yet provide some reinforcement of the ideas throughout the week. I also talked to the choristers about being sure to pack their choir binders with their school books ON TUESDAY NIGHT so they're not forgotten...I know I have been the victim of morning forgetfulness/craziness far too many times :P

Also, just a reminder that all the practice videos are up and waiting! The harmony on Hear Us, Our Father is particularly lovely, so I would love to be able to do it justice...

Thanks so much for all your dedication and hard work :)

I'm excited that we can relax for a bit with our first Mass back...it doesn't entail nearly as much music as Christmas, so we can actually get a bit more comfortable with the music again. All of the music is posted already on the Lenten Mass page, and the Youtube Playlist is current as well.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Congrats to all the choristers for a wonderful Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve! I was a bit sad that we didn't get to sing everything we had planned, but that's kind of how church music works.... better to have too much music planned than not enough! Thanks for all of your hard work. I've heard a lot of good things from people in the congregation about how good the kids sounded.

Looking ahead a bit....in light of how hectic these last few weeks have been and how hard we've been working, I think it would be best for us to cancel the Mass on January 13. We would only have one rehearsal to prep an entire Mass, and I think that's just a bit too crazy at this point! Instead, we will still resume rehearsals on January 9, but we will be working toward the Mass on February 17 (First Sunday of Lent). The Liturgical year of the Church certainly keeps us busy!

Reminder: NO REHEARSALS UNTIL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9!

Enjoy this time with your family and I hope you still sing for fun to keep those lovely voices in shape :)

Wishing you a blessed Christmas season!

In dulci jubilo is everywhere! This is definitely a more complex version, but it's the same text...and quite a bit slower, but still beautiful.

http://www.chantcafe.com/2012/12/pure-christmas-joy-across-centuries_21.html

Resonet in Laudibus & Puer Nobis Nascitur are now posted at the top of the Christmas page under "Extras"

Back row is singing Latin verses for Resonet in Laudibus, which is now posted on the website and added to the Christmas Playlist.

Puer Nobis Nascitur (Small Group Soli) has two videos. Get solid with the melody on the melody video and then practice "holding your own" against my harmony in the harmony video. Don't follow me down in pitch!! :D

Also added the files on the "Christmas Audio" page if anyone's interested...

Happy practicing and I'll see you Saturday!

Hello everyone! I hope you're finding time to practice on the website in these crazy pre-Christmas days! Just wanted to let you all know that the Youtube playlist is complete and in order. My only question mark is "Dormi Jesu" .... as of yet, I have not had time to teach it to them, and my gut instinct is to just focus on all of our other music, but that depends on how rehearsal goes on Saturday. Also, you may notice that there are no Mass Parts posted. For continuity's sake, we will be singing a mix of the German Mass and Mass of St. Benedict. I have not had time to record them, so they're not posted. They DO have the music in their binders (big yellow tab), so if they already know the melodies from regular masses, it would be fantastic if they can confidently sing along. However, I'm not expecting that, since we haven't had rehearsal time for it. Elizabeth, our cantor, will carry the melody as needed for the congregation. I just didn't want you to be confused seeing the different Mass Parts on the list below.

IMPORTANT MANDATORY REHEARSAL TIMES:
Saturday (THIS Saturday) December 22: 11:15am-1:00pm
Monday December 24 (Christmas Eve): Rehearsal starts at 3:15, Pageant begins at 4:00, Mass starts at 4:30

Without further ado, the music order for Christmas Eve:
(Dark red = choir solo, italics = congregation sings)

Pageant:
O Little Town of Bethlehem (2 verses)
The First Nowell (2 verses)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (2 verses)
O Come All Ye Faithful (2 verses)
Away in a Manger (2 verses)

Preservice: (depending on how long the Pageant goes...)
Christmas Chants (Annunciation, Trip to Bethlehem, Birth of Our Lord, The Shepherds)
Behold, I Bring You Good Tidings
Puer Natus (Solo group)
Hodie Christus Natus Est - Round
Resonet in Laudibus
?Dormi Jesu?

Introit: starts at 4:26pm

Mass:
Processional: Once in Royal David's City: choir solo for VERSE ONE!! :)
Kyrie: German Mass
Gloria: German Mass
Psalm: Forever Will I Sing the Goodness of the Lord
Alleluia: St. Benedict

Offertory: Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming
Offertorium (Proper)
Sanctus: German Mass
Mysterium Fidei: Benedict
Amen: Benedict
Agnus Dei: German

Communio (Proper)
O Holy Night (Beth solo)
Silent Night/Stille Nacht (3 verses English, verse 4 in German)
A Babe is Born
In Dulci Jubilo

Recessional: Joy to the World
Postlude: Organ

As you can see, this is A LOT of music!! I think we are totally capable of it though, and as long as they take the time to listen and practice at home, they will be fantastic!! :) See you Saturday!

Let it never be said that chant and other traditional styles of music are too complex for children: http://www.chantcafe.com/2012/12/through-eyes-of-child.html This is just one of many examples I've seen. While it would be unwise to expect young children to be able to sing advanced chants and/or polyphony, it's NEVER too early to cultivate appreciation and understanding! :)