Charles Culbreth

Dear Friends of Chant Cafe,

I just learned that one of our bloggers and one of the kindest men I’ve ever known, Charles Culbreth died yesterday. He was a unique musician – with a church career that ran from contemporary folk Christian to chant. It is my understanding that he was also an inspired music educator who taught many children and young people the joy of music. No one who ever met Charles forgot him.

Let us not forget him now. Please remember him in your prayers.

See You in Chicago? Come to the CMAA Colloquium!

There is still some time and still some places available for singers who want to have a ripping good time singing chant and polyphony, networking and hanging out with lovers of sacred liturgical music, working with some of the “best of the block” in the field, and taking their own skills and experience up to another level.

From June 25 to June 30, 2018, there will be beautiful music at the lakeside campus of Loyola University, with  Masses celebrated in the Madonna della Strada chapel. Extraordinary Form, Ordinary Form, Latin and English, and now Spanish! Head over to the CMAA website and see all the opportunities to sing music you love.

If you’re a beginner at singing, fear not! The basics of chant are taught and there is a special choir to introduce you to the intricacies of polyphony. There’s no “karaoke choir” here. Instead you have a chance to work on skills with a welcoming community. Everyone was a beginner once upon a time; the best of us remember it!

Put the kitchen remodel on hold, see if the car won’t hold out one more year, whatever! Come to Chicago and discover the joy of great liturgical music that YOU are a part of.

Your spirits will be lifted and your faith strengthened. What more do you want?

See you at Loyola in June!

Extended Early Registration for CMAA Courses at Duquesne

Yes, this is much better than turning up an old Easter egg under the sofa.

The reduced rate for the excellent CMAA courses this summer at Duquesne has been extended to April 14th!  So this would be a good time to get off the fence, register, and save some bucks.

You can find all the information and registration over at the CMAA web pagesdevoted to these courses.

Improve your own knowledge of chant, study with a monk of Clear Creek Monastery, or learn secrets of working with children. All courses taught by experts to congenial classmates – do come!

Sacred Miscellany

Lovers of Sacred Music are cordially invited to visit my blog at sacred miscellany for a taste of Great Saturday Lamentations from the East. Better yet, subscribe to the blog and never miss a moment of interesting and beautiful sacred a cappella music.

CMAA Summer Courses 2018

Take advantage of early registration and save some bucks!

Come to one of these courses and get smarter!

There’s a course here for everyone interested in chant – look at the choices:

The famous Chant Intensive, taught this summer by the inimitable David Hughes
Clear Creek Monastery’s Laus in Ecclesia – Level One taught by Br. Mark Bachmann from Clear Creek

Want to bring chant to children? How about:

Ward I*- That All May Sing, taught by Scott Turkington
Ward II* – Intermediate – taught by Wilko Brouwers

All courses  take place June 18-22 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Details and registration at the CMAA web pages for the courses.

Early registration ends March 31st!!! Get in on the savings now!  

*NB – These courses do not have official Ward accreditation and are not affiliated with the Center for Ward Studies.