If you only ever share one post I write, this is the one. Because this is important. We need you. And yes, I mean you. You think you aren’t good enough to join the choir. You are. You say you’re tone deaf. You’re not. We’ve known a man who actually was…and he learned to sing.…
Read MoreAll articles filed in liturgical music
Alive Again
Michael and I went to the Newman Center for Mass last night. That wasn’t how the day was supposed to be. I was supposed to be at 10:00 Mass across town, with the choir and my husband. I was supposed to conduct an a cappella piece and sing harmony on the psalm. But Nicholas’ illness…
Read MoreLet Everything That Has Breath (or: Beating a Dead Horse)
Just before my alarm went off, 5:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning, I had the most amazing dream. We were attending Mass at the Newman Center, and singing the new Mass parts. They were chants, as a matter of fact, but the most gorgeous, melodic chants I’d ever heard, and expanded into gorgeously rich harmony…
Read More7 Quick Takes, vol. 119
___1___ First out of the box: I am writing a short magazine feature on marital communication and natural family planning. I’d love to have some quotes from some of you NFPers out there on how you think NFP has helped, hurt, or otherwise affected your spousal communication. Email me at kathleenbasi@gmail.com, or just leave a…
Read MoreEnding the Liturgy Wars
With the changes to the Mass less than a year away, it seems like a good time to address a topic that’s been bothering me for quite a while. They’re called the liturgy wars, and they are as ridiculous as their name. Today I’m guest posting at Catholic Mothers Online, and my topic is liturgical…
Read MoreBroken, Humbled, Part 2
There’s a prayer I say every time I go up to sing the psalm: Lord, speak through me today. Use my voice to reach your people. This is a humble prayer, and with good reason…because I’m not. I think pride is built into the makeup of artistic people (imagine the ego: I put my words or music…
Read MoreSecond Home
Twilight comes early these days. When choir practice ends on Wednesday evenings, we press the touch pad on the wall and full darkness descends, leaving the holy spaces heavy and silent, a comforting closeness that can only be found in vast spaces, beloved and intimately known. There’s something about the feel of the church as …
Read MoreThursdays are for being tired
Thursday mornings can be hard in this house. Wednesday nights, we get out of choir practice at 8:30 (half an hour past the kids’ bedtime) and go pick them up and take them home. Every week, kids shove books in our hands and protest violently because we say, “No, not on choir nights, honey, you know…
Read More7 Quick Takes
___ 1___ Well, folks, it’s early, but it’s not too early to be making plans. Advent is coming. How are you going to celebrate? Here’s the first book review of my book, Joy to the World: Advent Activities for your family. ___2___ Speaking of Advent, I’m planning to host a weekly roundup for anyone who is using the…
Read MoreThe Unexpected Moment
At 8:15 p.m., I was sitting in a hard metal folding chair in the parish hall. I didn’t feel good. Christian didn’t feel good. Nicholas didn’t feel good, and was past his bedtime. He was wiggling on my lap, desperate to nurse and go to sleep. The choir members were flipping through their hymnals. And…
Read More
Kathleen M. Basi 