Hymns and Carols
When I first started in hymnody, I made my own texts fit the music of others. (You can see examples on my blog.) Soon, though, something wonderful started happening: I began hearing fragments of text wedded to original melodies. As I played with these and expanded on them under the tutelage of a composition teacher, I started composing hymns, carols, and other songs in both Latin and English that are doctrinally Catholic, yet shaped by my time in the rich choral tradition of Anglicanism.
As a convert to the Church, I want to encourage fellow Catholics to sing with all our heart, soul, and strength. Singing is not meant to be confined to the choir; the Mass itself is like a fountain pouring out the joy of Christ upon our hearts, a joy that we are charged to share with a desperate and hurting world. Translating that joy into works of music is part of my life's vocation.
Hymns and carols (music and texts mine)
"Hail, Queen of Peace," a hymn for Ukraine. Sung as the Communion hymn at St. Francis Episcopal Church, Virginia Beach, Virginia, on the last Sunday of Epiphany, February 27th 2022. Start from the 18:30 mark.
"Hail, Jesus Truly Present," a Eucharistic hymn honoring Blessed Carlo Acutis in its tune name.
"Carol of Our Lady's Crown" (Salve Regina in Caelum Assumpta). Performed for the first time as the opening hymn on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15, 2021, at St. Thomas More Chapel, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
Selected hymns (texts mine, music by others)
"How great Thy cloud of witnesses," a text for the Solemnity of All Saints. Performed to the tune ST. ANNE as the offertory hymn at Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartford, Connecticut, for the Pre-Ordinariate Fellowship of Connecticut, November 1st 2021.
"Christ, the Word of Invitation" (tune: HYFRYDOL), commissioned by the Parish of St. Catherine of Siena, Trumbull, Connecticut. Sung in that parish for Sunday of the Word of God in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Also sung as the processional hymn on January 22nd, 2023 at St. Augustine's Cathedral, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
"Blessed Mary Ever Virgin," written to the tune ST. THOMAS (Wade). First verse performed by a cantor as the entrance hymn at the 9 AM Mass, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Lake Ridge, Virginia, November 7th 2020. Start from about 3:45 in this video.
“O Queen of Sorrows, Weeping Rose,” written to the tune REPTON. Performed by a cantor as the Communion meditation at the 10:00 AM Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Parish of St. Catherine of Siena, Trumbull, Connecticut, August 15th, 2020. Here is a partial video of the service; start from about the 7:30 mark to hear the hymn.
"O Queen of Sorrows, Weeping Rose" was also sung as the hymn of the month at St. Anna's Catholic Church, Monroe, Georgia, October 2023.
“Hear, Holy Mother,” written to the tune CHRISTE SANCTORUM in March 2020. This hymn asks Our Lady’s intercession in the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is an article about this piece from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport website.
"Fully God and fully human" (tune: ST. THOMAS (Wade)) on the wedding feast at Cana, commissioned by the Parish of St. Catherine of Siena, Trumbull, Connecticut, January 2019.
Selected carols (texts mine, music by others)
At Christmas 2020 I wrote the carol "Let Us Set Sail for Bethlehem" to the tune MENDON. In this article, I talk about my faith journey and perform the carol! Fairfield County folk may pick up a few inside references.
In 2020 I also contributed several texts just for fun to the Hymn Society's "COVID Carols" project.
“Carol of Welcome,” (tune: SLANE) used in Christmas services at the Episcopal-Lutheran Church of the Nativity and Holy Comforter, Baltimore, Maryland, and First Church of Christ, Scientist, Ukiah, California, December 2018. This carol can be sung in English alone or as a macaronic text in English and Irish.