Beyond any doubt at 76 I'm running for oldest-guy-on-the-list award! But there may be some advantages....
With a life-long interest in the music of the church, and as an organist for over 60 years, I'm one of the few still around that straddles that liturgical music game-changer known as Vatican II.
Before it Mass was celebrated universally in Latin, and most of the music at a High Mass was Gregorian chant. For Low Masses just throw in a "Hail Holy Queen" and "Holy God" at the end and you pretty much had your program for the day!
Since then there has been enormous development and progress -- the system of professional music directors, an avalanche of new Masses and hymns in English, and an emphasis on congregational participation.
My compositions here include two Masses and a musical tribute or memorial to my wife, Janet. The two Masses are The Mass of Notre Dame - a Gregorian Mass in English, and the Mass of Religious Freedom (SATB and descant with instruments). Additional information about the Mass of Notre Dame can be found on the website http://gregmass.com. The English text used for both Masses is that approved by the International Commission on English in the LLiturgy as of 2010.
The musical memorial for Janet represents, in my Christian imagination, the story of our lives together. Most of the pieces are short and "impressionistic", except for the rapidly moving Organ Toccata on "In Paradisum".
Sibelius audio is available for the five major parts of the Mass of Religious Freedom and for all twelve parts of the musical tribute.
Thank you for taking the time to visit this site....
Mike Cronin