Nights on the square

I have to admit that there really is not much to do in Lindsay, TX except work, eat, sleep, and practice the organ (not neccessarily in that order).  Moreover, Lindsay's age demographic is older than Emma and me.  There are plenty of young families here with kids and older families with grown up kids, but there is a serious lack of people our age (i.e. 23-30 range.)  My theory is that the kids go off to college and upon graduating find jobs and move away.  When they get married and start having kids then they move back to Lindsay.  This is not at all a bad plan; Lindsay is probably one of the best places on earth to raise a family that supports, nourishes, encourages the Catholic faith.  However, Emma and I have not yet been blessed with children and we are, essentially, BORED!!!!!

Now, I'm not saying we are bored with each other.  As a matter of fact, moving to Lindsay has been great for us!  I get to see her more because I work across the street and can come home for lunch, we get up and walk most mornings, and we work together more frequently.  So that part has been great, but evenings in are starting to get old and we need some variety.  And we have been doing just that!



Emma and has rejoined the Denton Bach Choir, a volunteer group of retired musicians, students, enthusiasts, people looking for a musical outlet, etc.  For my Webster friends, think of it as the people of the Webster Choral Society with the talent that is more comparable with the Bach Society or the American Kantorei.  Anyhow, she has been rehearsing with them on Monday nights.  I joined them as well but there first concert conflicts with a talk I'm giving on the New Translation in October; so I will join them after that.  So in the meantime, I've been carousing around the the town of Denton, TX while she rehearses.  Lame? perhaps, but Denton is a neat college town and it gives me something to do.  I call them my "Nights on the Square."

Now one might possibly ask: "what is there to do in Denton?" Well, quite a bit.  For starters, if you're a lover of used books, cds, etc.  There is a wonderful place on the southeastern corner of the square called Recycled Books.    This is a wonderful place that is a dangerous place bookaphile like me.  But it doesn't sell just books; sheet music, cds, records, movies, dvds, etc. can all be found in this great store.  For instance, I have found wonderful editions of piano, organ, vocal music that would be very expensive new for next to nothing here.  I recently picked a DVD of a Met Opera production of Das Rheingold here for the little sum of $18.  Seriously, one can spend a lot of money in this place.  So I've decided that each Tuesday morning will feature my "Nights on the Square" that will document what I did the night before while Emma was diligently rehearsing music for the next concert.  Stay tuned!!

Celebration Mass

Last night we celebrated the restoration of St. Peter's in Lindsay with a Mass celebrated by His Excellency, the Most Reverend Kevin Vann.  St. Peter's was packed in the nave and in the loft.  It was a wonderful evening that ended with veneration of a relic of the True Cross along with a nice reception in the large parish hall.  It was a joy to see that a good friend of mine, Fr. Samuel Weber, attended this Mass.  I knew that he was in the area (Fort Worth is actually a little over an hour away, but that's not too far), and was very pleased to see him.  As a matter of fact we sang a new setting of his for the Sprinkling Rite.  He said he was amazed as he walked into the church and then heard the choir rehearsing his music.  I was privileged to play with a very fine trumpeter, Dr. Jerry Biershenk?, who accompanied the hymns and some of the service music with lovely descants and provided  a fun little prelude piece for trumpet and organ.   The choir sang beautifully! and as I prepare for the first weekly rehearsal tonight I look forward to working with such a delightful and talented group of people.  Unfortunately, I was so busy that I didn't manage to get many pictures of the Mass last night.  Needless to say,  it went off without a hitch,  the restoration is finished, and my first large music project is over!

September 15 - Our Lady of Sorrows

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows and here is a sample of music inspired by the liturgy of today.  This is one of my favorites settings of this text; it just does my little Baroque heart some good!!  Not to mention it features one of the best sopranos who sings this period of repertoire: Emma Kirkby.  Yes this is my bias, but I don't think there are few sopranos with such clarity and warmth of tone.  Anyhow, Happy feast day and enjoy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYsjwKuC-Wg&NR=1

Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

Today is the day!  Hard to imagine that it has been exactly one month since I've been in St. Louis playing for a Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Robert Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis.  Today I will play for a Mass to celebrate the restoration project of St. Peter's in Lindsay celebrated by the Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of Fort Worth!   The past few days have been a little hectic in the office as we tried to tidy up in little bits here and there;  even the church received a few small touches yesterday.  The organ is in tune (mostly!) and the choir at their last rehearsal on Sunday sounds prepared.  It has even been threatening to rain this morning!  It is dark and overcast, and the roll of thunder is heard often.  It would seem an odd thing to want rain on a day like this but, all of north Texas hasn't had rain since June I think.  

In other news, I read on the New Liturgical Movement blog that the Holy See has delivered an 'ultimatum' of sorts to the SSPX regarding reconciliation with Rome.  The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has given the Society an explanation and criteria for interpretation of certain Vatican II documents that were of issue with the Society.  I personally think that this is the most the Church can do;  please pray for the reconciliation of the Society.

Monday Morning - September 12

It's Monday again and it seems like time has flown this week.  Yesterday afternoon I had a rehearsal with the Adult Choir to get ready for the Bishop's visit.  The choir will sing two specially prepared pieces for this Mass.  One, a setting of the wonderful text "Jesu, the very thought of Thee" at the offertory.  The second, a setting of one of my favorite communion texts: "Anima Christi".  The offertory anthem is set by British composer/arranger Simon Lole, taken from the Oxford Easy Anthem collection.  The communion some might consider cheesy, but it is simple and sounds good.  Arranged by Charles Thatcher,  the text is the traditional prayer set to the Mode II psalm tone.  In between each verse Thatcher inserts little organ versets by French Classical composer Jean Titelouze (1562-1633).  The result is quite nice;  the polyphony of the organ versets contrasts wonderfully with the simple psalm-tone the choir sings. Perhaps it's a little too simple but, then again I've only had three rehearsals with them.  Moreover,  in the words of my organ professor, Pat Partridge,  "it makes the choir and the organ sound good!"  I'm looking forward to performing this with them on Wednesday evening.

Derek Chester and the Denton Bach Players.

Last night Emma, myself, and my mother-in-law, spent the evening in Denton, TX at a concert on the campus of the University of North Texas.  The concert was given for the benefit of the Denton Bach Society.  The program was arias, recitatives, sinfonias, and a complete cantata by Bach.  The tenor soloist, was Derek Chester, a superbly brilliant tenor! Derek is a doctoral candidate at UNT studying with Jennifer Lane.  He tackled some of the most demanding Bach arias with ease and managed to do so with a smile on his face.  The Denton Bach Players, under the direction of Andrew Justice, were a delight to hear perform;  the consort included two violins, cello, bass, transverse flute, and oboe d'amour with continuo.   The strings played with period bows and they were excellent.  The tempos were a little on the fast side, but the musicality of the players, especially Mr. Chester, offered a stunning performance of each piece!  There will be a repeat performance at Christ the King Catholic Church in Dallas in October. 

Overall, it was a delightful evening that ended with some Braums' soft-serve on the way home.  While on the road, we tuned into the local classic music station and they were playing Brahms' (coincidence: eating Braums while listening to Brahms) Requiem.  This was a recording done 9 days after 9/11 in New York at Avery Fischer Hall to commemorate the victims of the attacks.  'Twas a great evening indeed!

September 7 (Lindsay in the Morning)

Today is day three of chilly mornings here in Lindsay and the North Texas region.  A front moved through on Sunday evening and brought with it some rather strong winds and eventually temperatures in the low 70's in the mornings.  The house faces east and has a great view of the sunrise.  

Emma and I have had some rather interesting events in the past few days. Emma discovered a leak in the plumbing of the house.  And by discovered I mean she looked up and saw a huge bubble-like bulge coming down from the ceiling in the downstairs bathroom.  The leak was formed because the caulk under the drain of the upstairs shower had dried out.  It dried out because no one has lived in this house for over a year and houses need people to inhabit them. Anyways,  thankfully it wasn't to much of a problem and it is now fixed.

We've spent the past few mornings walking through town.  Since the weather has been cool,  it is pleasant and a good way to start the day. 

The Beginning

This is hopefully the first of many posts.  I've never 'blogged' before and am usually opposed to doing so. However, Emma and I have moved approximately 600 miles away from our home in St. Louis to the small town of Lindsay, TX. We moved from my hometown of 23 years to this small town not far from her home town and her folks.  But for those of you who have discovered  this blog and will continue to read it (thanks!), let's back up and see how we got here in the first place.

The Beginning
My name is Andy,

and I'm a church musician.

Unfortunately, no, I do not play this organ....

Anyways, about five years ago I met this girl from Texas named Emma and we got married!

 

Being a church organist I have had several positions within my somewhat still short career.  Here are a few places that I've been either organist or assistant organist. 

St. Francis de Sales Oratory, interim organist, and assistant organist

St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, assistant organist

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, organist

All of these parishes have been in St. Louis.  My new assignment is in Lindsay, TX at St. Peter's Catholic Church.  It is my hope to do graduate studies while I'm here at one of the many universities in the area. Here are a few pictures of St. Peter's. 

The High Altar

The Nave

The Organ and Choir loft

A view of the nave from the loft

A picture of the Church at dusk

The Church at dawn right before my first morning mass

So here we are in Lindsay, TX.  Emma and I are settling into our lovely new/old house (pictures of that to come soon).  The parish is practically the entire town of Lindsay; about 1018 people with weekend mass attendance at about 825-850 and growing. The church is newly restored after two years of renovation from water damage in the ceilings.  I've never seen a more devout parish than St. Peter's; this is a really unique place to be.  This blog is dedicated to chronicling all of the events that goes in this little yet surprisingly active parish.