Good news. You can now watch Simonetta & FourEver's recent EWTN appearance on Life on the Rock here: http://youtu.be/9d9kO_kNN2k

More at: www.facebook.com/FourEverMusicdotcom 

Here is Simonetta & FourEver's latest album called "Ineffable" at iTunes:

From Words to Music
A User's Guide to Text for Choral Musicians

by Gerald Custer / Blake Henson
2014 by GIA Publications, Inc.

The power of story and story-telling makes choral singing irresistible...and the impact of text wedded to music is what fuels the choral art. Yet in the heat of rehearsal, we can forget to ask, "Whose words are these in my mouth? Why is this message being sent? Who is the audience for this story? Why does it matter to them? How can I make this story my story?

In this enlightening book, conductor Gerald Custer and composer Blake Henson offer practical tools and strategies to approach, unlock, and understand text: how it works, how it's structured, and what it means. In a series of informal dialogues punctuated with personal illustrations, Custer and Henson reveal how composers and conductors make the journey that transforms words into music. 

Good news. You can now watch our recent EWTN appearance on Life on the Rock here: http://youtu.be/9d9kO_kNN2k

A note from Len Pacek:

Dear friends,

LIVE CHAT DURING THE SHOW

We just wanted to let you know about a great opportunity to interact with the singing group "Simonetta & FourEver" on Friday night, 7/25/2014, during their debut broadcast on EWTN's Life on the Rock (7PM CST)!

Just join the conversation tonight by visiting the girls' facebook page at 7PM (CST): www.facebook.com/FourEverMusicdotcom 

Ask your questions live and comment on the show! It will be completely interactive and fun.  See you tonight.  Don't miss it!

Yours in Christ,

Len

Don't forget to LIKE our page while you're there!

Find your EWTN: www.ewtn.com/channelfinder
Watch live via the internet: www EWTN.com/multimedia/live.asp
Or listen on ewtn radio or Sirius XM Satellite radio

NPM National Convention–St. Louis, Missouri

Monday, July 14 through Friday, July 18, 2014
America’s Center—701 Convention Plaza

GIA is thrilled to be a part of this year’s National Pastoral Musician’s Convention in St. Louis, MO. We have a number of exciting events and breakout sessions to offer presented by a talented mix of GIA composers and clinicians. Be sure to visit us at the GIA booth in the exhibit hall where you will find a wonderful array of new music and resources for your ministry along with our most popular favorites.

Featured Clinicians

David  Anderson	Stephen Petrunak	Michael  Joncas	Marty  Haugen	Roger Holland	David  Haas	Lori True	Michel Guimont	Bobby  Fisher	Kim  Harris

To review Convention Schedule, visit npm.org

GIA Publications, Inc. Phone: 800-GIA-1358 Fax: 708-496-3828  Email: custserv@giamusic.com

More great resources are available from www.giamusic.com, call 1-800-GIA-1358 or your favorite music dealer.

Flor y Canto, tercera edición is the newest edition of the best-selling Spanish Catholic hymnal in the U.S.!

Discover why thousands of Hispanic Catholics turn to Flor y Canto to lift their voices in song. Whether you are looking to unite the diverse cultures of your Hispanic community, searching for more music for Rites and celebrations or want a music resource—created with guidance from Church documents—with over 13 Mass settings, Flor y Canto, tercera edición will lift the hearts and voices of your assembly in praise!

Explore an expanded repertoire of over 740 titles from more than 15 Spanish-speaking regions around the world with PDF samples sent straight to your inbox! Flip through the virtual songbook to see photos, page previews and song samples, see what others are saying and find out what’s new, at-a-glance!

Find out what’s new… at-a-glance! Compare the previous edition Flor y Canto with the new Flor y Canto, tercera edición.

Giving Voice to Your Hispanic Community

Watch as renowned composer and Director of Hispanic Ministry, Pedro Rubalcava introduces
Flor y Canto, tercera edición!

I like this collection of Spanish and English Mass videos posted under the YouTube channel GloryBe TV:

https://www.youtube.com/user/GloryBeTV/videos

Here is a sample video – the sung Padre Nuestro (Our Father) from Misa Rosas del Tepayac. 

An article by Nick Alexander

As a worship podcaster, I am constantly looking for “new” old songs and hymns, that can combine my love of music with my devotion.  This past month, I came across an extremely rare epic hymn by Frederick Faber, a 19th century convert best known for “Faith of Our Fathers.”

Hello everyone and God bless.

I have released a new album of contemplative, worshipful Catholic hymns.  If you are a Catholic and you love the beautiful hymns sung during Mass, please check out the album!  It is titled, "Hosea" by Jonathan Murphy.  The album is available on amazon, itunes and cdbaby.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  As you know, Catholic music is not exactly the most prevalent among all the Christian music out there today and is not generally embraced by the Protestant community.  I want to get the word out to make this Catholic music available to all the faithful who seek music that promotes Catholic beliefs, theology, spirituality, and prayer life.  I pray that it will be a blessing to you and to all who are seeking something such as this to help enrich their walk in faith. 

Please also check out my new website at www.jonathanmurphymusic.com or write to me at jonathanmurphymusic@aol.com

http://www.amazon.com/Hosea-Jonathan-Murphy/dp/B00GSA9S8Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1401380599&sr=8-3&keywords=jonathan+murphy+hosea

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jonathanmurphy

This is a podcast by Nick Alexander. – Richard Schletty, TCS admin

The Prayer Meeting Podcast is a worship podcast where you are invited to sing, play along, or just listen. Music notation of these songs will be made available. This week’s episode is an extended worship jam based on the songs of Pentecost. Many of these songs were based upon a detailed survey that many of you answered.

An article by Nick Alexander

For almost two decades, I have been a responsible itinerant church musician, worship leader, and songwriter.  Part of that equation has always been attaining a license to Christian Copyright Licensing Inc. (CCLI for short)... 

When I was first getting started playing for different groups, such as parishes, youth rallies, prayer groups, young adult groups, healing masses, etc., I always had my CCLI license to ensure that the songs I had covered had been legally protected. I would insist that if you are in this boat, you, too, must comply and be ensured that your status is active.

However, the last eighteen months I have been helming the Prayer Meeting Podcast, it was decided early on that I had to forgo the vast majority of worship songs in my repertoire. This is because CCLI does not offer an option to use their songs in a podcast format. (Except that they do: they require that the songs themselves be sung live in the context of an actual worship service). Due to the constraints of my setup (my studio can only fit one person, maybe two), that was simply not going to happen...

My friend and music associate, André van Haren, has posted a complete series of instructional videos for Sibelius 6, an awesome music notation program. If anyone has thought about learning to engrave professional looking sheet music, this is your quick start! – Richard Schletty

André recently posted this overview of "object checking" – a summary of several videos posted here in the Forums and at YouTube. Please watch and comment. See complete list of Sibelius 6 tips in the TCS Forums.

Sibelius Quick Tip 25 - Object Check part 6 - overview

See complete list of Sibelius 6 tips in the TCS Forums

Jim Papandrea has been writing, recording and performing music for over 25 years: in Milwaukee; Minneapolis; Los Angeles; Rome, Italy; and most recently in the Chicago area. After a few years with the Milwaukee-based band, The Crabs, Jim formed his own group called The Neumes, which migrated from the University of Minnesota to LA.  The Neumes released two recordings, Ars Nova and Contrast.  In 1995, after a summer at the American Academy in Rome, Jim returned to the Chicago area to create Remember Rome.  Remember Rome has released four CDs: Remember Rome, La Bocca della Veritá, Carpe Diem, and Holy Smoke – The Best of Remember Rome. Jim has been commissioned to write church choir music, and has also written music for film, and produced music videos.  He has written and directed two musicals, Treasures of the Heart (a Christmas musical) and The Prodigal’s Dream (an Easter Opera). One of the songs from Treasures of the Heart was featured on an internationally released compilation of Christmas music. Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in music and theatre arts from the University of Minnesota, as well as a master’s degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, specializing in the history and theology of early Christianity. He has also studied Roman History at the American Academy in Rome, Italy.  Jim is an alumnus of the Nashville Songwriters’ Association International Song Camps, and is a teacher of songwriting.  He is currently Associate Professor of Church History at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (at Northwestern University) in Evanston, IL. Jim has been a featured speaker and singer at conferences, parish missions, and other special events, and also works as a consultant for churches, giving workshops and facilitating retreats. Jim and his wife Susie live in the suburbs of Chicago. 

Jim Papandrea's web site: http://stillquietvoice.wordpress.com

Jim Papandrea’s latest CD, featuring 12 original songs of faith, inspiration and encouragement. Contemplative, devotional and confessional, Still Quiet Voice is Jim Papandrea’s first solo project after almost two decades with the successful group, Remember Rome. Songs to encourage faith and prayer, to meditate, or just to relieve stress.

Click here to listen to and buy Still Quiet Voice

All the Songs is a free E-Book that contains the lyrics and guitar chords to (almost) every song Jim Papandrea has written. It also includes a commentary, with Jim Papandrea’s own reflections on the meaning of the lyrics, and the inspiration for each of the songs. Click the link to download All the Songs as a PDF.

All the Songs – Jim Papandrea

A message from Nick Alexander:

We are now in the Easter Season.  Pentecost is coming soon. Pentecost is the traditional celebration as to the birth of the Church, when the Holy Spirit (which Jesus had promised to His followers) descended upon those in the upper room, giving them power to evangelize and to heal.

I am preparing a music resource that will employ the use of many traditional hymns and current worship songs to celebrate the events that occurred in Acts 2. My question is: What are your favorite traditional hymns and praise choruses for Pentecost?

The first section of songs are all in the public domain. The second section of songs are not.  They are culled from every resource I have at my disposal – ccli.com, hymnary.org, and the many songbooks, hymnals and various missallette company resources.  They cut across all denominations.

I need your help, so to ascertain which songs people are hungry for, and which songs are blind spots.  I am discovering there's so many riches in our Christian faith, we can truly benefit from making these songs our own.  Your assistance will ensure that we can help discover anew our heritage and grow from these songs.

Thank you for participating!

Nick

FAVORITE PENTECOST HYMNS

Image by The Meek Warrior; Creative Commons Non-Commercial Use

An email blast from GIA Publications:

Looking for ways renew the spirit of your Pentecost worship?
Try these highly recommended resources from GIA Publications, Inc.

Go to this page and search for item numbers listed below:
https://giamusic.com/search?elSearchTerm=pentecost

For Organ...
G-6005 Veni Creator Spritus
G-8362 Gregorian Preludes for the Liturgical Year

For Organ with Instruments...
G-6433 Fantasy on Veni Creator for Alto Saxaphone and Organ

For Voices and Bells
G-8427 Introits and Anthems for Voices and Bells –- Volume 2

For Handbells...
G-5751 Every Time I Feel the Spirit
G-7251 One Great Spirit
G-7492 Catch the Spirit

For Choir...
G-2665 Burn Bright
G-2831 Spirit of God within Me
G-2914 The Day of Pentecost
G-3003 Let Songs of Praises Fill the Sky
G-3606 Lord, Send Out Your Spirit
G-3915 Send Down the Fire
G-4589 Spirit-Friend
G-4766 Spirit of God Unleashed
G-5321 O Spirit, All Embracing
G-5526 Lord Send Out Your Spirit
G-7135 All Who Are Led by the Spirit
G-7167 When the Holy Spirit Comes
G-8415 Our Comforter and Guide 

July 29 - August 3, 2014 / St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minnesota

There is still time to apply - but the deadline is very soon!

Come be a part of a magical week with young people and adult leaders! Under the leadership of founder and executive director David Haas, the 2014 team includes: Fr. Ray East, Lori True, Fr. Michael Joncas, Marty Haugen, Bonnie Faber, Kate Cuddy, Stephen Petrunak, Fr. Fran O'Brien, Jaime Cortez, Anna Betancourt, Mary Louise Bringle, Tom Franzak, Lynn Trapp, Sr. Kathleen Harmon, Joe Camacho, Tim Westerhaus, and many more!

Come join 150 other high school and early college students, and 50-60 adult leaders for a week of celebration, learning, growth, and the joy of liturgical music!

Visit www.musicministryalive.com for applications and more information

A note from Susan Bailey, speaker, performing songwriter and author. She is a member of the Catholic Association of Music:

Hi to all of you,

God has graced me with a wonderful healing which I am writing about on my blog. Here are links to the first two posts:

My unexpected miracle healing (part one)

My unexpected miracle healing (part two): openness to God's way

My unexpected miracle healing (part three): healing inside and out

More to come! Thanks be to God! Happy Easter to you.

Peace, Susan Bailey

Listen to/purchase Susan's music