Category Archives: Music

“Oh, no. Not at all.”

Posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 by bt

Everyone knows that answer is merely ceremonial when the question was “Honey, do I look fat in this?” A few weeks ago, I realized that the same is true for: “Hey man, will I bother you if I practise bagpipes … Continue reading →

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Keeping Up With The Times

Posted on Saturday, April 9, 2011 by bt

The other day, I stumbled into a small music store in search of an electronic metronome. The aging hippie behind the desk was only too happy to help: Ditch: What’s the difference between these two? Pitch: Well, this one’s twenty … Continue reading →

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Euphony

Posted on Saturday, March 19, 2011 by bt

I’d always wondered why limericks sound so emphatically complete at the end. They shouldn’t. They’re five lines long, already an unstable number, and the last has to reach three lines back for its rhyme. Here’s the trick: A limerick is based … Continue reading →

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Cultural Imperialism

Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 by bt

Those most responsible for the wreck of Catholic liturgy in recent years are fond of the notion of delivering local custom from the ravages of the out-of-touch juggernaut of Roman tradition. In the name of which cause they take the … Continue reading →

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105.9 CHPD-FM

Posted on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 by bt

The Mennonites of Aylmer, Ontario. Because who else is spinning Elgin County the Christian mariachi top 40 in Low German?

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Say What?

Posted on Monday, August 3, 2009 by bt

On the top of Google’s listing for weird emails today: Dear Father, Bad news: When I set the tenth Sunday after Pentecost as the first day for the Kinkoriites to sing the Propers, I’d forgotten that my boss is expecting … Continue reading →

Posted in Health and Illness, Music, Travel | Leave a comment

CMAA Sacred Music Colloquium 2009

Posted on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 by bt

And here’s how you all should have spent this past week: Keep an eye on Corpus Christi Watershed, who put together this video. They were taping all week, and I hope they’ll have more to offer soon.

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Music History

Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 by bt

A few weeks ago, a non-Catholic music student and friend of a friend attended our Extraordinary Form morning Mass to hear the chant. Her review: “Looks like not much has changed since the 9th century.” It was the best musical … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, The Church Militant | Leave a comment

Catholic Grandpa

Posted on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 by bt

Step one when you buy a Liber Usualis is to flip to the very end and ask “Doesn’t this thing have an index?” To which my grandfather used to answer: “It’s a Catholic book. Of course it’s got an Index.” … Continue reading →

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Fitting Worship

Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 by bt

The language and music of the liturgy use our minds and bodies to express God’s love of man and our love of Him. Although visual art expresses the same thing, it does so with an inanimate medium, and so has … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Theological Musings | 1 Comment