//podcastplus.net/feed/square-notes-the-sacred-music-podcast~8262e5e5 You’ve got questions about sacred music? Here’s your chance to learn what the Church teaches and envisions for music in the sacred liturgy.Welcome to Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast with your host Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka. We address topics of interest both to priests and liturgical musicians, as well as a general audience of Catholics interested in learning more about the Catholic Church’s teachings and treasury of sacred music. Our topics range from discussion of Church documents on sacred music, to the music of certain composers or eras, Gregorian chant, the role of music in Catholic education, and techniques for directing a better choir rehearsal. We’ll interview bishops, priests, music directors, composers, teachers, philosophers, and theologians. We’ll talk to people who found a home in the Catholic Church because they heard the call of Christ in the Church’s sacred music. We’ll ask questions about how really great music programs are doing their work. We’ll introduce you to Catholics who love their faith and, through sacred music, offer all their efforts for his glory and the sanctification of all who hear them.We aim for our podcast to be thoughtful, encouraging, and informative. We hope, too, that it will inspire and motivate you to work for the renewal of authentic beauty in sacred music—whether you’re a working church musician or an average Catholic in the pews wondering what’s going on. With the prayers of our patronesses, Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom and Saint Elisabeth of the Trinity, we hope to help draw souls to Christ through the beauty of the Church’s sacred music.Square Notes is the official podcast of the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music. http://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/ Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:54:56 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP12_A_Feast_for_Ear_and_Eye_The_Alamire_Manuscripts_with_Dr_Emily_Thelen.mp3?dest-id=1065116 Join Dr. Emily Thelen as she takes us on a tour of the masterfully illuminated manuscripts of the Alamire collection of Renaissance manuscripts from the Low Countries, and explains to us the Confraternity culture of Catholic society that brought about such wonderful masterpieces.  Learn more about Dr. Thelen's work here: https://independent.academia.edu/EmilyThelen Access the Integrated Database for Early Music here: https://idemdatabase.org/page/home Buy Dr. Thelen's book on Brussels 215-216 here: https://publications.alamirefoundation.org/en/leuven-library-of-music-in-facsimile/1164/llmf/1419/llmf-vol.-2-a-choirbook-for-the-seven-sorrows-study-studie  Learn more about the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music here: http://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/ Fri, 30 May 2025 03:38:00 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP12_A_Feast_for_Ear_and_Eye_The_Alamire_Manuscripts_with_Dr_Emily_Thelen.mp3?dest-id=1065116 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP11_-_A_Church_Musicians_Guide_to_the_History_of_the_Pronunciation_of_Latin_-_with_Dr._John_Pepino.mp3?dest-id=1065116 Looking for a historical and ecclesiastical framework by which to understand performance decisions about the pronunciation of Latin? Join Dr. John Pepino as he explains the origins of the Latin language and how we know anything about the pronunciation of classical Latin, describes the style and handing on of the golden age of Latin, discusses the relationship between St. Jerome's Vulgate and the Vetus Latina editions, demonstrates the pronunciation of Latin in various European pronunciations of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, and clarifies the Vatican's position on the issue.  Two books are recommended for further reading: W. Sydney Allen, Vox Latina: A Guide to the Pronunciation of Classical Latin F. Brittain, Latin In Church: The History of Its Pronunciation To learn more about Dr. Pepino, visit: https://veterumsapientia.org/about/faculty-staff/ To learn more about the Advanced Seminar in Old Roman Chant this summer at the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music, visit: https://catholicins... Fri, 25 Apr 2025 11:02:00 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP11_-_A_Church_Musicians_Guide_to_the_History_of_the_Pronunciation_of_Latin_-_with_Dr._John_Pepino.mp3?dest-id=1065116 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP10_Should_Postludes_Be_Loud.mp3?dest-id=1065116 Join us as we outline strategies for making playing great repertoire every Sunday and feast day possible, even if you're a really busy parish music director. Prof. Christopher Berry, who will be teaching the Organ Literature course this summer at the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music takes us through some of the foundations for developing a game plan, the role the organist has in cultivating prayerfulness before and after Mass, and how to systematically work through Bach, among other topics.  Find out more about Prof. Berry here: https://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/faculty/ Learn more about the Organ Literature class and apply here: https://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/summer-courses/ Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:15:00 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP10_Should_Postludes_Be_Loud.mp3?dest-id=1065116 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP09_Meditating_on_the_Mysteries_of_the_Lives_of_Mary_and_Jesus-_Music_of_Heinrich_Bieber_and_Franz_Joseph_Haydn_-_with_Fiona_Hughes.mp3?dest-id=1065116 Join Fiona Hughes, Artistic Director of Three Notch'd Road: The Virginia Baroque Ensemble as we discuss music which will help you meditate on the lives of Christ and Our Lady, as well as the Passion and Death of Christ. We talk about Heinrich Biber's  Rosary Sonatas , as well as Franz Joseph Haydn's  Seven Last Words of Christ .  Learn more about Three Notch'd Road here: https://www.tnrbaroque.org Listen to Three Notch'd Road, including the mentioned album  Epiphany here: https://www.tnrbaroque.org/recordings/#epiphany Learn more and apply to the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music's Summer Graduate Program here: https://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/summer-courses/   Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP09_Meditating_on_the_Mysteries_of_the_Lives_of_Mary_and_Jesus-_Music_of_Heinrich_Bieber_and_Franz_Joseph_Haydn_-_with_Fiona_Hughes.mp3?dest-id=1065116 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP08_A_Catholic_Curriculum_A_Model_Music_Program_in_a_Classical_High_School_-_with_Dr_Alexis_Kutarna.mp3?dest-id=1065116 Looking for inspiration in building a Catholic school curriculum around the worship of God and the sacred arts? Join us for a discussion about the Ordinariate's Cathedral High School in Houston, Texas as Dr. Alexis Kutarna, Head of School, explains how they built both the building and structure of the school to support an encounter with Christ in the sacred liturgy, and how they build students up in Catholic culture for a formation in the truth, especially through beauty, virtue, and true leisure. Learn more about Cathedral High here: https://cathedral-hs.org/ Learn more about Dr. Kutarna here: https://cathedral-hs.org/people/alexis-kutarna Learn more about summer graduate study, including the Choral Institute, at the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music here: https://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/ Learn more about the  Fons et Culmen  Sacred Liturgy Summit here: https://liturgysummit.org/ Wed, 09 Apr 2025 03:42:00 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP08_A_Catholic_Curriculum_A_Model_Music_Program_in_a_Classical_High_School_-_with_Dr_Alexis_Kutarna.mp3?dest-id=1065116 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP07_Episode_7_-_Is_Formality_Inauthentic_or_Insincere_Understanding_Excellence_in_Ars_Celebrandi_in_American_Catholic_Parishes_-_with_Archbishop_Salvatore_J_Cordileone.mp3?dest-id=1065116 What does the phrase  ars celebrandi really mean and what does it have to do with the spiritual lives of priests and the lay faithful? What are means of acheiving excellence in  ars celebrandi ? Are there special challenges that American Catholics face in entering into the sacred liturgy celebrated well? Why is working to cultivate the reverent celebration of the sacred liturgy so important in our time?  His Excellency, Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco, tackles these and other questions.  Join the archbishop, Cardinal Sarah, and other prelates and theologians at the Sacred Liturgy Summit this summer, July 1–4, 2025. More information is available at: https://liturgysummit.org Sat, 29 Mar 2025 18:42:00 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP07_Episode_7_-_Is_Formality_Inauthentic_or_Insincere_Understanding_Excellence_in_Ars_Celebrandi_in_American_Catholic_Parishes_-_with_Archbishop_Salvatore_J_Cordileone.mp3?dest-id=1065116 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP_06_-_The_Liturgical_Compositions_and_Eucharistic_Poetry_of_St_Thomas_Aquinas_-_with_Fr_Innocent_Smith_OP.mp3?dest-id=1065116 Join Fr. Innocent Smith, OP, as he takes us on a tour of St. Thomas Aquinas' poetry and compositions for Corpus Christi. We discuss Aquinas' training in poetics, his liturgical horarium and experience, how the commission to write texts for Corpus Christ came about, and spend time on the rich theology and poetry of his works for the feast.  Read more by Fr. Innocent here: https://dhs.academia.edu/InnocentSmithOP Learn more about summer study at the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music here: https://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/summer-courses/ Learn more about the  Fons et Culmen Sacred Liturgy Summit here: http://liturgysummit.org/ Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:11:00 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP_06_-_The_Liturgical_Compositions_and_Eucharistic_Poetry_of_St_Thomas_Aquinas_-_with_Fr_Innocent_Smith_OP.mp3?dest-id=1065116 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP05_Short_on_Singers_or_Dough_Enter_Concertato_Motets_-_with_Dr_Janet_Hunt.mp3?dest-id=1065116 Discover a genre designed for choirs with limited forces and money with our guest, Dr. Janet Hunt. We discuss the origins of the concertato motet, various composer who composed in this genre, texts set, and liturgical use of the pieces.    Dr. Janet E. Hunt, FAGO, received performance degrees from Oberlin Conservatory, Southern Methodist University, and the University of North Texas. Equally proficient on organ and harpsichord, she has been a finalist in the Bodky Competition for Early Music twice, the Edinburgh Festival Harpsichord Competition, the SEHKS competition, and two appearances at the Prix André Marchal Competition in Biarritz, France. She has recorded two compact discs of works by César Franck and Louis Vierne. Dr. Hunt publishes editions of early 17th century sacred music for solo voices and organ at www.huntmusic.us , and had an article on the genre appear in the Summer, 2024 issue of Sacred Music . She is the organist at St. Anthony’s Parish in Allston, MA.   Dr. Hunt reco... Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:10:00 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP05_Short_on_Singers_or_Dough_Enter_Concertato_Motets_-_with_Dr_Janet_Hunt.mp3?dest-id=1065116 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP04_When_and_Why_Did_Ut_Change_to_Do_And_Other_Historical_Questions_about_Solfege_-_with_Dr_Charles_Weaver.mp3?dest-id=1065116 Dr. Charles Weaver joins us to outline a history of solfège and the practical and theoretical knowledge that arises from employing the early hexachordal system to understanding and singing Gregorian chant.  Learn more about Dr. Weaver here: https://www.juilliard.edu/music/faculty/weaver-charles and here: https://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/faculty/ Find out more about the summer graduate courses at the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music here: https://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/summer-courses/   Mon, 03 Mar 2025 17:01:00 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP04_When_and_Why_Did_Ut_Change_to_Do_And_Other_Historical_Questions_about_Solfege_-_with_Dr_Charles_Weaver.mp3?dest-id=1065116 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP03_Singing_the_Credo_Historical_Origins_and_Development_-_with_Dr._Harrison_Russin.mp3?dest-id=1065116 What are the origins of the liturgical use of the Credo? Do we still have the original melodies to which it was sung? How did the singing of the Credo develop during the medieval period into the Renaissance? Dr. Harrison Russin joins us to answer these questions.  Learn more about Dr. Russin here: https://www.svots.edu/people/rev-dn-dr-harrison-basil-russin Join the CMAA and get a subscription to  Sacred Music journal here: https://churchmusicassociation.org/journal/ Find out more about the  Fons et Culmen  Sacred Liturgy Summit here: http://liturgysummit.org/ Find out more about summer graduate study at the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music here: https://catholicinstituteofsacredmusic.org/summer-courses/   Mon, 24 Feb 2025 21:40:00 +0000 https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/squarenotes/SE07_EP03_Singing_the_Credo_Historical_Origins_and_Development_-_with_Dr._Harrison_Russin.mp3?dest-id=1065116