On this episode of Rhythms of Faith, Kim and JJ sit down with Dr. Rebecca Maloy, Director of the Sacred Music Program at the University of Notre Dame. A renowned musicologist specializing in liturgical chant, Dr. Maloy shares how she first became fascinated by the mysterious world of “Old Hispanic” (also known as Mozarabic or Hispano-Mozarabic) chant. Drawing on her decades of scholarship, she explains how this ancient tradition—independent from Roman chant—wove together texts, melodies, and theology to foster Nicene Christianity on the Iberian Peninsula.

Listeners will hear why, despite its elusive notation and origins, Old Hispanic chant provides a window into the power of liturgical music to shape both memory and belief. Dr. Maloy also reflects on Gregorian chant, the Carolingians’ project of “correctio,” and the creative tension between oral tradition and fixed musical forms. Finally, she offers insight into how her historical research directly informs her leadership of today’s Sacred Music Program—where new generations of conductors, composers, and performers carry forward the Church’s living musical heritage.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:26 Rebecca Malloy's Background and Interest in Chant

00:53 Exploring Old Hispanic Chant

02:58 The Role of Chant in Liturgy

04:58 Gregorian Chant and Its Origins

08:21 Old Hispanic Chant and Word Painting

16:18 The Intersection of Orality and Writing in Chant

22:57 Contemporary Relevance and Teaching of Chant

31:48 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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