New Sacred Music Podcast

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Peter Carter and I have just launched a new podcast entitled “Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast.”

Our first episode is an interview with His Excellency Alexander Sample, Archbishop of Portland, Oregon. We recorded the episode before he released his new pastoral letter on sacred music, but we hope you’ll find the episode especially enlightening now that the new document has been released.

Here’s a bit about the show from our website:

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 hosts Peter Carter and Dr. Jennifer Donelson. 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.

The podcast is distributed via iTunes, YouTube, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.

Here’s a look at our upcoming episodes, which will be released weekly on Sunday/Monday:

Episode 1 – An Archbishop’s Reflections on Sacred Music – with Archbishop Alexander K. Sample
Episode 2 – Beauty and Catholic Culture: a Story of Conversion – with Vida and Josh Hernandez
Episode 3 – The Role of Sacred Music in Catholic Education – with Charles Cole
Episode 4 – Seven Common Misconceptions about Sacred Music – with Peter and Jenny
Episode 5 – Introduction to Gregorian Chant – with Dr. William Mahrt
Episode 6 – Spirituality of Gregorian Chant – with Fr. Cassian Folsom, OSB
Episode 7 – Historical Techniques for Teaching Music to Children – with Charlie Weaver
Episode 8 – The Role of Sacred Art in Evangelization and Church Patronage of Art – with Dr. Elizabeth Lev

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving us a rating on iTunes, or subscribe on any of our platforms. This helps others find out about the podcast.