Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast

We welcome an inspiring and wise guest on the show to talk about the perception of beauty, the effect of beauty on the soul, and how to form oneself and children in beauty. Dr. Alice von Hildebrand focuses on what she believes are the key virtues for every person: reverence and humility. Tune in to hear her words of encouragement for musicians and parents. To read the article we mention in the epi...

Join us for an update on the current situation with the organs at Notre Dame in Paris, following the April 15, 2019 fire. Our guest is the fantastic titular organist of Notre Dame, Olivier Latry, who gives us an assessment of the damage and what to look for in the road ahead. He also discusses the development of the instrument and its role in the sacred liturgy and the development of organ reperto...

Dr. Nathan Knutson, the Director of Sacred Music at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia, joins us for this episode on the Church's esteem for the pipe organ. If you've been looking to learn about the history of the organ in the Roman rite, the basics of its construction, or the theology of its inclusion into a religion which takes the voice as its first instrument, this is the episode for you! An...

We're learning about one of this podcast's patronesses in this episode - St. Élisabeth of the Trinity, who described herself as "laudem gloriæ," the "praise of glory." Discover why St. Élisabeth is an excellent spiritual model for musicians, and get to know her as a spiritual friend eager to help in all your life's struggles. Our guest is an expert on St. Élisabeth, Dr. Anthony Lilles, who was jus...

We're taking a look at the Catholic way of reading, understanding, and praying the book of Psalms. Our guest is Dom Benedict Andersen, who is a Benedictine priest-monk and founding member of Silverstream Priory, in Stamullen, County Meath, Ireland. He is currently preparing for doctoral studies in the area of patristics. His passions include typography, the psalms, and well-behaved pit bulls.  To...

James Monti is an author in the fields of Catholic liturgy and hagiography. His books include A Sense of the Sacred: Roman Catholic Worship in the Middle Ages , The King's Good Servant but God's First: The Life and Writings of St. Thomas More , The Week of Salvation: History and Traditions of Holy Week , and In The Presence of Our Lord: The History, Theology, and Psychology of Eucharistic Devotion...

Join us for an episode highlighting the spiritual fruits that flow from following the Church's pastoral guidance in the celebration of the liturgy. We talk about  Musicam Sacram , the document's pastoral plan with three degrees of singing, the spiritual impact of the clergy singing their parts of the Mass, and even a little bit about how to fundraise for your music program.  Our guest is Fr. Natha...

Join us in this episode for a discussion about St. Cecilia, and the liturgies and sacred music of Rome.  Gregory DiPippo is the Editor of the New Liturgical Movement blog. He lives and works in the eternal city of Rome, sharing his breadth of knowledge of the liturgical traditions of the Church with people across the globe.

Robert Cardinal Sarah was appointed by Pope Francis in 2014 as the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He has said of his efforts for the renewal of the sacred liturgy that "Pope Francis has asked me to continue the extraordinary liturgical work Pope Benedict began." Cardinal Sarah is the author of three interview books with Nicolas Dait: God or Not...

Robert Cardinal Sarah was appointed by Pope Francis in 2014 as the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. He has said of his efforts for the renewal of the sacred liturgy that "Pope Francis has asked me to continue the extraordinary liturgical work Pope Benedict began." Cardinal Sarah is the author of three interview books with Nicolas Dait: God or Not...

Dr. Timothy P. O'Malley is the Director of Education at the McGrath Institute for Church Life , where he also serves as Academic Director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy . He teaches and researches at Notre Dame in the areas of liturgical-sacramental theology, catechesis, and aesthetics. He is the author of numerous articles and books, most recently, the forthcoming Divine Blessing: Liturgica...

Juilliard-trained James Wetzel is one of the most respected Catholic church musicians in New York City. In this episode, we ask James about his work as the director of music and organist at the Dominican parish of Saint Vincent Ferrer and Saint Catherine of Siena. His professional Schola Cantorum is renowned for keeping very much alive the "Church's treasure of sacred music" for the worship of God...

Rev. Fr. Jude Orakwe is a lecturer at the music department of Anambra State University (a.k.a. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University). He is also the founder and director of Shanahan Institute of Music of Onitsha Archdiocese (for adults) as well as of the George Handel Music Academy (for the children) of St. Joseph's Parish Odoakpu Onitsha. He directs the Archdiocesan choir and is also the music...

For this episode, we are joined by the renowned Catholic composer Kevin Allen. Kevin has written a large repertoire of sacred choral music for the Church's liturgy and shares with us his insights into creating new works of art for the liturgy, as well as his advice for Catholic artists today. Kevin Allen's O Sacrum Convivium Kevin Allen's Domine Non Sum Dignus Kevin Allen's sheet music Kevin Allen...

We're joined by Philadelphia musician and educator Lisa Knutson for a discussion of the Jesuit missions in South America and how the missionary spirit, artistic craftsmanship, and education in beauty offered by the Jesuits in the 17th century can inspire the heart of the modern missionary to bring Christ to the poor through sacred music and music education. The Zipoli Institute has a lot of great...

Episode 7 – The Role of Sacred Art in Evangelization and Church Patronage of Art – with Dr. Elizabeth Lev This episode is an exploration of how the Church has used art and beauty to evangelize in the past and how it can do so again today. Dr. Elizabeth Lev is a renowned art historian and dynamic speaker who communicates the awesome power of religious art and why becoming aware of this power is so...

On today's episode, we'll look at how choristers learned music in times past. Our guest is Charles Weaver. Charlie is on the faculty at the Juilliard School, where he teaches performance practice on plucked instruments. He has performed with Quicksilver, Piffaro, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Folger Consort, Apollo's Fire, Blue Heron, Musica Pacifica, the New York Continuo Colle...

Our guest for episode 5 is Fr. Cassian Folsom, OSB, from the Benedictine Monastery in Norcia, Italy. We'll be discussing with him how singing Gregorian chant forms the spiritual life of the monks through the daily prayer of the Divine Office and the Mass. We also touch on the role of Gregorian chant in the spiritual life of lay people, and its role in parish music programs. Fr. Cassian is American...

In our fourth episode, we are joined by Professor William Mahrt of Stanford University who gives an introduction to the history, music, liturgical role, and spiritual value of Gregorian chant. Dr Mahrt is the president of the Church Music Association of America (the CMAA), and the editor of Sacred Music , the journal of the CMAA. He's a respected scholar of Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphon...

Episode 3 – The Role of Sacred Music in Catholic Education – with Charles Cole We take an inside look at a British choir school, and discuss the role of sacred music in an authentically Catholic education. You've already heard just a bit of his work as a listener to this podcast; he's the director of the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School singing the opening track for our show. Charles C...

Episode 2 – Beauty and Catholic Culture: a Story of Conversion – with Vida and Josh Hernandez In our second episode, we look at the power of beauty to draw people to Christ and the Catholic faith. We interview two of Dr. Donelson's dear friends who encountered the radiance and power of Christ in the sacred liturgy, in sacred music, and through an immersion in literature and Catholic culture. Vida...

In our inaugural episode, we interview His Excellency, Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, Archbishop of Portland, Oregon.  We give a brief introduction to the show and ourselves before diving into the interview.  Archbishop Alexander Sample was appointed Bishop of Marquette on December 13, 2005, by Pope Benedict XVI, and then the Archbishop of Portland at the beginning of 2013. The Archbishop has deg...