Celebrating 40 years of Marty Hogan and the gang!

[Athanasias]

We remember this year that we celebrate 40 years of Marty Hogan goodness in his all to well known classics in our parish such as "Gather us in" and "Eye has not seen". He is a righteous dude. Because "All are welcome".

 

[Fantine]

We remember this year that we celebrate 40 years of Marty Hogan goodness in his all to well known classics in our parish such as "Gather us in" and "Eye has not seen". He is a righteous dude. Because "All are welcome".

Do you know that the National Pastoral Musicians are meeting in your home town at this very moment? I'm attending my second NPM conference right now (drawn by the lure of returning to my hometown) and have been so blessed by every performance, prayer service, workshop, and music showcase I've attended. It's after midnight now, and it's been very busy (btw they have 'organ crawls' during the day, too.)

This was just one workshop I attended today (link relates to the topic):

Amazon.com: A Lenten Journey: Music

He has written songs for each week of Lent for each of the three liturgical reading cycles--beautiful, reflective songs that directly relate to the readings of each day (he's also done this for Easter).

He gave us so many insights into the readings and the process of composing liturgical music.

We are so fortunate to have so many gifted artists and composers working for God's glory.

(I especially liked Grayson Warren Brown's evening worship Monday).

There will be a lunchtime organ recital at Christ Church Cathedral tomorrow at 12:15 (I am sure the convention events are closed, but I imagine the off-campus concerts are probably open to the public).

Marty Haugen and Michael Joncas are co-presenting a workshop in the afternoon (hadn't known that till I looked at the program--can't decide whether to attend because there are about 20 choices for each time-slot).

I wish you could be here, because I think you would have a new appreciation of the role of music ministry and all genres of liturgical music.

 

[Fantine]

Day 3, and activities of which you'd certainly approve, Athanasius.

An opening talk encompassing lots of Benedictine spirituality. A Gregorian chant workshop led by a monk from St. Meinrad who is one of the foremost experts in the U.S.--and who was also tremendously entertaining and enjoyable. A music showcase featuring a vast array of all styles of liturgical music. And yes, the Haugen and Joncas workshop--on the psalms, which took four different psalms in a variety of musical settings--from chant to "psalm tunes."

A visit to the Shrine of St. Joseph, which I'd never seen, and which was exquisite in every detail. An interactive concert featuring women liturgical composers--from traditional to gospel.

I was up past midnight last night at the Taizé service, so I decided to skip the last concert (contemporary).

This has been an amazing pilgrimage, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

 

[Athanasias]

Oh I know about the NPM conference all too well that has taken place this past week because of the line of work I am in and had to deal with some of those people just the other day. Dude Marty Hogan rocks the house! Ain't no party like a Marty Hogan party because a Marty Hogan party never stops!!!

 

[Fantine]

Obviously you only had a superficial knowledge of the conference and its content. Just got home from the closing Mass concelebrated by Archbishop Carlson and scores of other priests, accompanied by traditional, contemporary, Latin, and gospel hymns, including a prayer of the faithful response in four languages, sung by 1500 enthusiastic voices.

Archbishop Carlson gave an affirming, encouraging homily filled with personal stories and insights.

My other activities of the day--an amazing post Vatican II wrapup by Sr. Honora Werner. She compared the past fifty years to a concerto--the first movement full of enthusiasm and energy--the second movement, reflective and somber--the third movement, even more energetic than the first.

She spoke of the need for "theologically sound" hymns after Vatican II (and, as I've said, one thing I like about contemporary hymns is that the lyrics are often taken directly from the Bible--and the readings of the day) and, although she still likes chant and traditional hymns, she isn't unhappy to see the four-chord hymns with trite lyrics go (how many times have I said that here?)

Another quote: "We have eyelids but we don't have earlids."

She said Pope Francis calls musicians 'subversive creatures' in church. How often do people leave Church quoting the homily? How often will they leave humming or singing something they have heard or sung?

She talked about keeping our ears to the people and integrating ministry with our lives, sustained by prayer.

She quoted St. Augustine: "Be sure your life sings the same tune as your mouth."

My traveling companion and I have decided to get the DVD of her talk...

I then went on the organ crawl to an organ concert at Christ Cathedral, came back to an industry showcase by OCP and a huge sample pack, followed that by a blissful workshop with a 'small' publisher--a charming Irish couple reminding me of my heritage, followed by a musical technology workshop, and, finally the closing Mass.

Two more sessions tomorrow. What a blessing to spend this blissful week in the city of my heart, where I raised my three children, and to do something I love.

Yes, it was on my dime--communications is my vocation, and music is my avocation at the moment--and it was worth every penny.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I love Hulk Hogan! "Hulkamania, BROTHER!"

Oh wait, wrong thread!

 

[Athanasias]

Dude Hulk Hogan and Marty Hogan are like cousins. I hear Marty Hogan is an ex Marine and a used to train people in combat killing and in some of his music this comes out. The Lyrics "Now is the kingdom now is the day" in Gather us in is a reference to going on the attack to the enemy that he used to use in Vietnam. And David Haas also owns his own Easter dye company.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Now we know about Hulkamania, and we've heard about Macho Madness! Today we witnessed the joining of the mania and the madness into the Mega Powers! It's mind-bending, man! It's enough to blow out my 24-inch guns!

 

[Fantine]

How sad that you, Athanasius, whether you are representing the archdiocese, SLU, or Kenrick, could not extend genuine hospitality and warmth to the composers you were hosting.

Fortunately, volunteers from so many St. Louis and metro East parishes did what you apparently were unable to do--gave 1500 of us visitors (and in my case, former residents) a warm welcome and spent countless hours making this conference an event where we were educationally, spiritually, and musically nourished and inspired.

Many thanks to all of them--hopefully they counteracted any rudeness you may have subjected Mr. Haugen to.

 

[Athanasias]

How sad that you, Athanasius, whether you are representing the archdiocese, SLU, or Kenrick, could not extend genuine hospitality and warmth to the composers you were hosting.

Fortunately, volunteers from so many St. Louis and metro East parishes did what you apparently were unable to do--gave 1500 of us visitors (and in my case, former residents) a warm welcome and spent countless hours making this conference an event where we were educationally, spiritually, and musically nourished and inspired.

Many thanks to all of them--hopefully they counteracted any rudeness you may have subjected Mr. Haugen to.

Oh I don't represent anyone personally except the Church. And I think its really sad that Mr. Hogan and Haas and the gang try to represent actual authentic Catholic Liturgical music done according to the Spirit of Vatican II. I guess he forgot to read the Vatican II oh wait he is a UCC that makes sense now!

Mary Hogan what a treat.

 

[Fantine]

If the Church is the "people of God," (and it is) then you, as one of those people, represent yourself--and perhaps some friends who think as you do.

Today I saw a presentation by Dan Schutte (one of the original St. Louis Jesuits) who spoke about Ignatian spirituality and how, no matter how good the technique, if the musicians don't have a lived experience of God it won't touch the hearts it needs to touch. He was actually far more musical than I thought he'd be--I always thought he was a guitar man, because the keyboard arrangements of his 1970's hymns had been written by a nun.

I especially liked this hymn we sang together--had never heard it before. It is based on St. John of the Cross' dark night of the soul, and I think that it could be comforting to any OBOBers who are currently experiencing this.

It's not meant to be sung during liturgy.

you tube dan schutte - Bing Videos

Our final speaker was Msgr. East, pastor of a vibrant African-American parish in Washington, D.C., who talked about evangelization, reconciliation (between Catholics like you and me, Athanasias), and not having a consumerist attitude about music. It was an interactive talk.

We practiced ubuntu with attendees we hadn't met (recognizing Christ in one another).

“Ubuntu is very difficult to render into a Western language... It is to say, 'My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in what is yours'.”
―Desmond Tutu
Read more at Ubuntu is very difficult to render into a Western language... It is to say, 'My humanity is caught up, is inextricably...

And neither you nor Gurney has yet to tell me why a liturgically appropriate song with lyrics taken directly from the Bible is inferior to traditional hymns which lack Biblical references, imagery, and metaphor.