Open Your Hymnal

You likely knew that composer Steve Angrisano is very talented musician and speaker. But, did you also know that he’s a great foot washer? It’s just one of the many things we discussed when we discussed his setting of Psalm 63, “My Soul is Thirsting.” Join co-hosts Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert as they speak with Steve about songwriting, contemporary music, family ministry, mentorship, and what the Church gets wrong about young people. We’ll also get a little closer to answering the question that’s been on all of our minds: just how big of a nerd was Zack in high school? It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss!

So, please open your hymnal to "My Soul is Thirsting."

We’re welcoming Fr. Michael Joncas back to speak about another one of his best-loved compositions: “No Greater Love.” While many know this popular song, not everyone knows that it was composed as part of a full Mass setting. So, there are a lot of layers to today’s episode: orchestral Mass settings, setting Scripture to music, using chant-like melodies, the effect of changes to the Mass translation, and what it means to compose “theatrical” liturgical music. We’ll discuss all of these with Fr. Michael, and explore them further with additional choices in the Open Your Hymnal Playlist.

So, please open your hymnal to "No Greater Love."

Open Your Hymnal is making its debut on Catholic radio tomorrow (September 1st)! To celebrate, we are releasing a re-mastered version of our very first podcast episode, "On Eagle's Wings," with composer Fr. Michael Joncas. The re-release includes the addition of our newest feature, the Open Your Hymnal Playlist, and more. Please enjoy this episode, originally released in May 2017!

[From the original episode posting]: The song "On Eagle's Wings" is everywhere: hymnals, YouTube, funerals and memorial services, and even PBS television specials. In this episode, Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert interview the song's composer, Fr. Michael Joncas, to learn more about the story of the song, the writing and publication process, and the song's legacy. There is even a surprise revelation about the connection between this beloved piece and Stephen Sondheim, and you don't want to miss it.

So, please open your hymnal to "On Eagle's Wings".

It's been a busy summer for Open Your Hymnal - conferences, travel, new interviews, new partnerships. Now, co-hosts Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert return from their summer break to a conversation with composer Fr. Ricky Manalo, CSP, about his song "Many and Great." They discuss musical style, cultural idioms, compositional influence, cultural identity, and more! They also introduce a new segment - the "Open Your Hymnal Playlist" - featuring songs Zack and Matt picked that relate to one of the conversation threads from the episode.

So, please open your hymnal to "Many and Great."

There is a lot to unpack in our Season 2 premier: the role and place of contemporary music, style wars, the synthesis of faith-culture-life, how we must do a better job of sending instead of just gathering, and more. Even Hootie & the Blowfish make an appearance! Listen as Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert speak with composer John Angotti about one of his best-loved songs, "I Send You Out." They'll touch on all of the topics already mentioned, and offer insights into the pastoral, musical, and liturgical realities of being music missionaries, not just music ministers. In doing so, John shares about his creation of the song, his own journey and vocation as a music minister, and the critical work of ministry.

So, please open your hymnal to "I Send You Out."

In just a few short days, we’ll be launching our second season of new episodes and interviews. Just in time for graduation and commencement season, we’ll start with our conversation with composer John Angotti about his song, “I Send You Out.” We’ll also be welcoming Carol Browning, Fr. Ricky Manalo, our second conversation with David Haas, and many more.

Before we do, we want to share with you this special feature. A few weeks ago, co-host Matt Reichert was able to spend time chatting with Fr. James Martin for the other podcast he hosts, “Ministry Monday.” In that episode, they discussed a host of topics including evangelization, maintaining a healthy balance, and navigating culture wars. They had a great conversation, and not all of it fit into the episode. So, we saved a few nuggets for you.

Today, you’ll hear the excerpts of that conversation that deal with liturgical music. Fr. Jim will share a little about his experience with liturgical music and some of his favorite songs. You can hear the rest of this conversation at ministrymonday.org.

So, we hope you enjoy this excerpt. If you haven’t yet, make sure you are subscribed to Open Your Hymnal so you never miss an episode. Get ready for Season Two!

We end our first season the way it began, with a setting of a Psalm text! Join cohosts Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert as they speak with composer Christopher Walker about his setting of Psalm 27. They discuss the sometimes not-so-helpful structure of responsorial Psalms, the clash of popular music culture and liturgical music culture regarding composer celebrity status, the importance of humility, and more. 

So, please open your hymnal to "The Lord is My Light."

Gary Daigle, Terry Donohoo, and Rory Cooney

It's our OYH Easter Vigil episode! Much like the vigil, this episode is longer and packed full of lots of beautiful moments. Join hosts Matt Reichert and Zack Stachowski as they return to composers Gary Daigle and Rory Cooney, this time in conversation together about one of their best-known and best-loved collaborations. You'll hear about "homiletic" texts, the song's intended use for rites of initiation, and the latest OYH liturgical music "bombshell". Our conversation is also joined by Diana Macalintal who shares more information about the RCIA and the concept of "covenant" in the ritual action of the Easter Vigil. 

So, please open your hymnal to "Covenant Hymn."

For more information about Gary Daigle and his other compositions, visit his composer page at GIA Publications.

For more information about Rory Cooney and his other compositions, visit his composer pages at GIA Publications, OCP, and WLP. Also, be sure to check out his blog, "Gentle Reign".

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording from GIA Publications. You can also purchase the other song recordings you heard in the episode: the instrumental guitar recording of "Covenant Hymn" (by Steve Petrunak), the instrumental piano recording of "Covenant Hymn" (by Paul Tate), and "I Am For You" (by Rory Cooney).

You can learn more about Diana Macalintal and her work at her website: www.TeamRCIA.com 

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All content of this podcast is property of Open Your Hymnal or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about the podcast and its use, please contact us.

From our interview at NPM 2017: Matt Reichert, Paul Inwood, and Zack Stachowski

Join us as OYH ventures "across the pond"! In this interview recorded in July 2017, Matt Reichert and Zack Stachowski spoke with composer Paul Inwood about one of his best-loved compositions and, in the process, learned a little bit about the trajectory of post-Vatican II music in the United Kingdom. In addition to earning extra frequent listener miles, this week's episode features another music theory lesson from Prof. Stachowski (and he busts out his guitar, back by popular demand). 

So, please open your hymnal to "Center of My Life."

For more information about Paul Inwood and his other compositions, visit his composer page at OCP. To find out about Paul's workshops and additional information about his music, visit the Magnificat Music website. 

You can purchase a copy of the score and a copy of the song recording from OCP. You can also purchase the other song recordings you heard in the episode: the instrumental recording of "Center of My Life" (by Tom Kendzia) from OCP, "Soli Deo Gloria" (by Marty Haugen) from GIA, and the guitar recording of "Center of My Life" (by Terry Robb) from iTunes.

You can learn more about the One Call Institute by visiting www.onecallinstitute.org. You can listen to the Ministry Monday podcast by visiting www.ministrymonday.org. Subscribe today! You can learn more about the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress by visiting www.recongress.org. 

You can read a history of the St. Thomas More Centre for Pastoral Liturgy at the Liturgy Institute website. The St. Thomas More Centre closed in 1995. You can find additional information about the St. Thomas More Group and purchase their music at OCP.

Don't forget to "subscribe" so you'll never miss an episode!

All content of this podcast is property of Open Your Hymnal or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about the podcast and its use, please contact us.

Composer Alan Hommerding, during our interview in December 2017 at World Library Publications in Chicago, Illinois.

Brace yourself for a double whammy: our first Lenten episode and our first hymnody conversation! Join Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert as they chat with composer and text-writer Alan Hommerding. They discuss the way metrical hymns works, the "evaporating pool" of hymn tunes in American parishes, and the need for a moratorium on the tune BEACH SPRING (no, not really). Whether you know a lot about hymns, are new to hymns, or think you don't like hymns (you're wrong, by the way), you'll learn something new in this episode. 

So, please open your hymnal to "From Ashes to the Living Font."

For more information about Alan Hommerding and his other compositions, visit his composer page at World Library Publications. You can read the blog post Alan mentions at PrayTell.

You can purchase a copy of the score from World Library Publications.

You can purchase the organ instrumental recording of ST. FLAVIAN and the piano instrumental recording of LAND OF REST on iTunes. The piano instrumental recordings of BEECHER and BEACH SPRING were recorded by Fr. Robert Koopmann, OSB, on the album "Sacred Improvisations."

You can view the video of comedian Andy Andrews singing the text of "Amazing Grace" to different tunes on YouTube.

You can view video of the conversation with Dr. Lynn Trapp and Dr. Jennifer Pascuale, "The Hymns Every Parish Should Know," in the NPM digital media library. It can be accessed through NPM's website, www.npm.org. NOTE: You must be a member to access the video content. Sign up today!

You can visit the Hymnary website at www.hymnary.org.

You can learn more about the One Call Institute by visiting www.onecallinstitute.org.

Don't forget to "subscribe" so you'll never miss an episode!

All content of this podcast is property of Open Your Hymnal or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. For information about the podcast and its use, please contact us.