The Chant Café: The Difference that Benedict XVI has made

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The Difference that Benedict XVI has made

Observe and listen. This type of thing -- so simple, beautiful, rooted in tradition but looking forward to the future -- was not common at St. Peters for decades. What's more, he has done what even Pius X tried and failed to accomplish in fixing music at the Vatican. There is no preconciliar recording or video at St. Peters that sounds this great.

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About the Chant Café

Catholic liturgical music is serious, solemn, transcendent, but Catholic musicians are never more fun and inspiring than when they are talking about what they love most. This is what happens at sacred music events around the world: the social and intellectual are critically important elements. The musicians (and music enthusiasts) at the Chant Café, a project of the Church Music Association of America, bring that sense of life and love to the digital world. As St. Augustine said, "Cantare amantis est."

Among the contributors:

Mary Jane Ballou, D.S.M., harpist, organist, director of Cantorae St. Augustine. specialist in sacred repertoire for women's voices | archive
Jennifer Donelson, D.M.A., managing editor, Sacred Music, associate professor at St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie
G Hildreth is an erstwhile Catholic music director and cantor who now sings where she may and blogs at scelata.blogspot.com | archive
Nathan Knutson, cathedral and diocesan director of sacred music, performing artist, father, lecturer on sacred music
Kathleen Pluth, director of sacred choral music at St. Joseph Academy, S.T.D. (cand.) student at the Angelicum in Rome, hymn writer and translator | archive
Fr. Christopher Smith, S.T.D., pastor of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Taylors, SC | archive
Mary Ann Carr Wilson, music director at St. Anne Church in San Diego, home of the summer Chant Camp.
Adam Wood, church musician and writer at Music for Sunday.
Ben Yanke, schola director and organ student in Madison, WI | archive

e-mail: contact@chantcafe.com