catholic liturgical music

Hi,
I'm a youngish professional musician working in the Catholic Church. I have two music degrees from reputable conservatories, but I am looking to get some real hands-on experience with the great liturgical tradition of chant and sacred music in the Catholic Church. Aside from one or two specialized university programs, there doen't seem to be much along those lines here in the states. Anway, I have some money saved up and am looking to go to Italy or the Vatican City to experience and study this great art first-hand. Can anyone recommend a possible jumping off point in terms of Univsersities or Institutions where I might be able to participate in and/or study this great tradition? I was hoping that the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music would be the place to start, but most of their website is in Italian and doesn't seem to have been updated since 2007. By the way, my Italian is functional, and I would certainly work to improve it if I were going over there. Thanks- Pax Christi!!

I suggest you email imacatholic2. He is a walking Catholic encyclopedia.
http://answers.yahoo.com/my/profile?show =AA11440601

2008-03-30 01:12:17 by st.dogmael

consider the fact that there are different music modes and styles rapidly sprouting in the society.

i like the traditional hymns of the catholic mass

2007-08-07 19:28:54 by Fray Loloy

Price: $59.95 $42.09

Mine is Advent.

I agree with Advent as my favorite season. But the Easter Vigil is my favorite single day. It's powerful, singing all those songs again after Lent, songs that we sometimes take for granted at other times of year. I get tears in my eyes every Easter when I sing the Gloria.

2009-05-12 05:41:41 by Ms. Swan SFECU

like the music from Marty Haugen, David Haas, St. Louis Jesuits, ect. Since church music has been changing since its beginnings. Medieval-Chants, all latin, Russian, Greek, Hebrew. the songs were monophonic, with no organ. Rennaissance-Hymns mostly latin and German, 4 part harmony, usually a little darker, based on the traditional music of the time, polyphonic, palestrina, orland di lasso, martin luther. 1700's baroque, bach, handel, ect. based on rennaissance hymns, with more accidentals, usually played on the organ, or orchestra. 1800s-use more gospel music over in the USA, Europe, they have songs in simpler chord progressions.
plus many songs of catholic background pre-vatican council II, dont have gregorian tunes, Silent night, Hail Holy Queen, Come holy Ghost, holy god we praise thy name.
and about the songs being outside of church style, and more like folk songs, the carols, and gospel songs are more like carols.

What controversy? These groups that you mention here are mostly about 20-30 years old. Why is more contemporary music a problem, if it is the music of God's people. I think we need more contemporary music in the church, at one time all the music you mention here was new.

ALso, when the church sends out missionaries to new cultures and tribes it tries to give the people liturgical music that is from their culture.

Our culture is profoundly different from the time that Chant and renaissance music was performed originally.

In fact much music that we think of as sacred today was not allowed in church when it was new.

Handel for instance was not allowed in the church in his day.

2007-09-05 18:14:03 by boris t

I've met some Catholics who apparently limit themselves to these genres of music.
I'm glad to know that Catholics are not limited to certain genres of music. Music is a gift from God. I too enjoy many different types of music. I guess the people I've met who limit themselves to certain types of music are just more conservative.

iam roman catholic and i listen to hip hop, regee, house music, don't judge a religion..

2007-05-02 13:03:53 by sokrates