When I tell the choir something important, I start by saying, “This is one thing you should remember forever, and if I get hit by a cement mixer on the way home from rehearsal, I won’t be here to repeat it again.” They used to laugh at that, but don’t anymore – I need to come up with another untimely death scenario.
At the top of the list is that singers need to open their mouths. From an early age, we’re conditioned to keep our mouths closed: “Don’t chew with your mouth open” “Shut your mouth or you’ll catch flies”
In a choir, a quick way to improve the sound is to have the singers open their mouths while singing. It prolongs the duration of the vowel and encourages legato singing. An open mouth generally leads to a better resonance in the voice and better vowel color. It also encourages concentration on the overall effort.
I have to fight the closed-mouth syndrome all the time because of old habits, but all the fighting pays off and open mouths can help any piece of music sound better.
Month: June 2004
A firm grasp on the obvious
Cardinal Francis George to JPII on the Catholic Church in America. Looks like we’re hung up on step 5 of 12: “Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”
New house photos
Weeks and weeks ago, I mentioned that we bought a new house. Well, we moved in, and everything is great, though we have been working on modifications (which are much better than fixes.) Below is a picture of the house. Below it is Anna, Christopher, and Charlie in front of the big tree in the front yard.
Philly priest charged with child exploitation
The US Attorney’s office has charged a Philadelphia catholic priest for child exploitation.
57-year-old catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia father Matthew Kornacki is accused of possessing computer discs and other materials on his personal laptop computer at Saint Charles Borromeo seminary that contained child pornography .
US Attorney Pat Meehan says the images had been mailed, shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce. [emphasis mine]
If convicted, Kornacki faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and $250-thousand fine.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia says Kornacki has been removed from active ministry.
He was a priest for more than 30 years and most recently served in the Department of Continuing Formation for priests at the seminary.
Who knows if this priest was trafficking in these images or if this means he just paid money for them? Regardless, this is a terrible charge, especially for someone who is faculty at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. More info on this case and another charge, this for a priest of the Diocese of Allentown, can be found here.
Before Roe v. Wade, did 10,000 women a year die from illegal abortions?
Ramesh Ponnuru posted this link on The Corner earlier today.