I’ve been working on this collection of posts for a while now, and hopefully, it’s giving our readers a little bit of insight as to what it is we do. But one of the best parts about shopping locally with a dedicated retailer is that such small businesses tend to really promote as much local [...]
In a series that keeps growing, I’m taking a little time to reflect on my history as a music minister; soon, I will have spent 20 years of my life working in parish music ministry. Since the time I began, at the age of 10, much of the music of my past began with the [...]
If you know a music minister in the Catholic Church, odds are that they are thoroughly familiar with the composer, Dan Schutte. Schutte began his stellar career as a Catholic liturgical composer with the Saint Louis Jesuits, and continues to write pieces heard at Masses across the nation. Most churchgoers are familiar with Schutte through [...]
Feb
NEW STEVE ANGRISANO!!!
One of my favorite Catholic recording artists has been in the business for around 2 decades, and in that time, he has managed to make music that reaches young people, both consistently and with longevity. The same songs I first heard sung by Steve Angrisano are as enjoyable now as when I first heard them. [...]
For many years, John Michael Talbot has been one of our best-selling music artists. Given his relatively local status, he is well-known throughout the area for his enlivened interpretations of some of the most popular Catholic songs available. His compilation City of God continues to be one of our top albums each year, based on [...]
Combining classical themes of great composers like Brahms, Bach, and Beethoven, with the modern take of popular pianists such as Jim Brickman, William Joseph’s release Beyond is like nothing I’ve heard in one album. The music soars from the speakers, pairing fast glitzandos and slower, methodical riffs. Bringing beautiful imagery to the mind, this is [...]
Although Advent is over liturgically, it doesn’t have to end musically! One of my favorite CDs of the last few years has been Janet Sullivan-Whitaker’s Tryin’ to Get Ready, a compilation of music that is designed to really enliven the season of Advent. What I have noticed, however, in listening to this collection is that [...]
I’ve been on a kick of contemporary Catholic music lately, and in the process, I’m revisiting some of my favorite albums and artists. All in all, it’s a good way to bring up some of the most powerful memories we have. Just as I joined my parish about 2 years ago as a liturgical musician [...]
While I was serving as Music Director at a parish in town a few years ago, I was given a great opportunity. With the blessing of our priest, and journeying with an enjoyable group from the parish, I set out for a pastoral musicians’ conference. It was one of the more unusual and exciting experiences [...]
I’m going retrospective in my music selections lately, it seems. Every once in a while, I like to pull out an album from my collection I haven’t listened to in a while. When I do, I have found, the music serves as its own time machine. Within the first few riffs of a song, I’m [...]