Monday, November 26, 2007

Good things in my old home state

There are many things going wrong in the state of Connecticut, the state of my youth, but there are many good things happening as well. Like a class for seminarians on Gregorian chant:

Gregorian chant has been a part of the Catholic Church's heritage for over a millennium, written in a Latin text with tones that rise and fall to a cadence formed before the ninth century. There are enclaves in Connecticut where it is still practiced regularly.

But classes in the ancient art are rare. Yale has held them and plans to again next year. Specialists traveling in the state sometimes host chant seminars.

The class at Holy Apostles is unique in that it trains future priests both how to chant and how to teach it to the laity. Students learn to conduct and compose. This year's midterm, for instance, asked students to write their own chants.
H/T to Deacon Greg.