Episodes

  • Ep 15 - ChantHacks: All Saints at St. Michael's - 25th Anniversary Re-issue
    Nov 16 2024

    Listen to the unwrapping of the very first CD!
    The All Saints at St. Michael’s - 25th Anniversary Re-issue is now available for purchase in the US and Canada, shipping included! All Saints at St. Michael’s - 25th Anniversary Re-issue and our family's popular Christmas CD Carol of the Bells can both be ordered through our new store at markemersondonnelly.com/shop. They should arrive in plenty of time for Christmas. When ordering BOTH CD's (and having them shipped to the same address), use the coupon code ALLSAINTS to get $5 off the total!

    See my recent newsletter for more info:

    Subscribe to our mailing list for upcoming special announcements about my work at https://markemersondonnelly.com/get-i...

    Please support these podcasts and our other Church music projects. Go to https://LifeFunder.com/mdonnellymusic

    You can also commission a composition (like the ChantHacks extro music), or host/sponsor workshops for a choir, parish, or diocese. If you’re a choir, schola, or parish music director, I am also available for mentoring. Please contact us either at mark@vocalart.org or allanna@vocalart.org

    God bless!

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    10 mins
  • Ep 14 - ChantHacks: Charles Weaver interview, Part 2, w/Mark Emerson Donnelly
    Apr 29 2024

    Share and subscribe to the ChantHacks channel!

    This is Part 2 of my interview with Charles Weaver, who teaches at the Julliard School of Music in New York. In this episode, Charlie and I discuss the importance of sight-singing.
    See Charlie's bio on Julliard: https://www.juilliard.edu/music/faculty/weaver-charles

    Leave a comment if you're going to practice sight-singing or want to know how to start!

    1) Subscribe to our mailing list for upcoming special announcements about my work at https://markemersondonnelly.com/get-involved/
    You'll receive a separate email with FREE sheet music for TWO Regina Caeli's that you can sing for the rest of Eastertide!

    2) You can also commission a composition (like the ChantHacks extro music) for your parish or for a special occasion! Email mark@vocalart.org to schedule a video call for discussion, and see the link below for more info.
    https://markemersondonnelly.com/music/sacred-compositions/

    3) Schedule a FREE 25-minute intro voice lesson! Email mark@vocalart.org https://markemersondonnelly.com/private-voice-lessons/

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    19 mins
  • Ep 13 - ChantHacks: Soriano's "Regina Caeli" arranged by Mark Emerson Donnelly
    Apr 22 2024

    Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the sheet music for Mark's arrangement of Francesco Soriano's "Regina Caeli" https://markemersondonnelly.com/get-involved/

    Leave a comment below and like this episode if you thought Mark's "hack" was successful!

    In this episode, Mark discusses why he arranged Francesco Soriano's "Regina Caeli". Give a listen to hear this unique piece, which you can sing for the rest of Easter!

    1) To support this podcast and other projects, go to https://www.lifefunder.com/mdonnellymusic

    2) You can commission a composition (like the ChantHacks extro music) for your parish or for a special occasion! Email mark@vocalart.org to schedule a video call for discussion, and see the link below for more info.
    https://markemersondonnelly.com/music/sacred-compositions/

    3) Schedule a FREE 25-minute intro voice lesson! Email mark@vocalart.org
    https://markemersondonnelly.com/private-voice-lessons/

    Happy Eastertide!

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    12 mins
  • Ep 12 - ChantHacks: Regina Caeli (simple/ONM revisited)
    Apr 15 2024

    Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the sheet music for Mark's "Organum Novi Mundi" (ONM) of the Regina Caeli! https://markemersondonnelly.com/get-involved/

    In this episode, Mark discusses further the Rules of Style and re-visits Ep. 5 about his Organum Novi Mundi of the simple Regina Caeli. You also hear an inspiring recording of the Regina Caeli by the monks of Solesmes directed by Dom Gajard (1885-1972), the model of the Solesmes method!

    1) You can commission a composition (like the ChantHacks extro music) for your parish or for a special occasion! Email mark@vocalart.org to schedule a video call for discussion, and see the link below for more info.
    https://markemersondonnelly.com/music/sacred-compositions/

    2) Schedule a FREE 25-minute intro voice lesson! Email mark@vocalart.org
    https://markemersondonnelly.com/private-voice-lessons/

    You can get CD's by Fontgambault and Clear Creek at Clear Creek Abbey's gift shop!
    https://clearcreekmonks.org/shop/

    Happy Eastertide!

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    12 mins
  • Ep 11 - ChantHacks: Charles Weaver interview, w/Mark Emerson Donnelly (Part 1)
    Mar 28 2024

    This is Part 1 of my interview with Charles Weaver, who teaches at the Julliard School of Music in New York. In this episode, Mark and Charlie discuss "informed" performance practice and the "Old" Solesmes Method.
    See Charlie's bio on Julliard: https://www.juilliard.edu/music/faculty/weaver-charles

    1) Subscribe to our mailing list for upcoming special announcements about my work at https://markemersondonnelly.com/get-involved/

    2) You can also commission a composition (like the ChantHacks extro music) for your parish or for a special occasion! Email mark@vocalart.org to schedule a video call for discussion, and see the link below for more info.
    https://markemersondonnelly.com/music/sacred-compositions/

    3) Schedule a FREE 25-minute intro voice lesson! Email mark@vocalart.org
    https://markemersondonnelly.com/private-voice-lessons/

    I was just at Clear Creek Abbey assisting in their preparations for the Triduum!
    Support the brothers at Clear Creek Abbey, and purchase their latest CD:
    https://clearcreekmonks.org/gift-shop/rorate-coeli-marian-sounds-of-advent/

    A blessed Holy Week and Triduum to you all!

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    24 mins
  • Ep10 - ChantHacks: The Amen (with Mark Emerson Donnelly)
    Jan 10 2024

    Click the link below to sign up for our new webinar series Chant Hacks for Building Your Chant Habits! All the information in the episode is there. Email allanna@vocalart.org with any questions!
    https://markemersondonnelly.com/live-webinar-series/

    In this episode, Mark focuses on the most frequent congregational response at Mass, "Amen," discussing WHY we should try to SOUND like we mean what we're saying, how we ought NOT to sound, and how we CAN sound as sincere and inspiring to others as possible, using the Old Solesmes Method.

    Here's the link to the article from the "Catechism of the Council of Trent" on the importance of the "Amen." https://cloud.fidei.xyz/s/ActI68y1nmIe2fU

    Subscribe to our mailing list for upcoming special announcements about my work at https://markemersondonnelly.com/get-involved/

    Please support these podcasts and our other Church music projects. Go to https://LifeFunder.com/mdonnellymusic

    You can also commission a composition (like the ChantHacks extro music), or host/sponsor workshops for a choir, parish, or diocese. If you’re a choir, schola, or parish music director, I am also available for mentoring. Please contact us either at mark@vocalart.org or allanna@vocalart.org

    Happy New Year & God bless!

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    23 mins
  • Ep 9 - ChantHacks: Alleluia-Laetatus Sum & The Jubilus (Let the Music Speak) with Mark Emerson Donnelly
    Dec 24 2023

    Here's the link to the motet I mention towards the end of the podcast "Laetatus sum" by Alessandro Scarlatti.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiOPqLsv_UA

    In this second installment of the "Let the Music Speak" series, Mark again demonstrates how we can look at the music of Gregorian Chant as Commentary on the text.
    This episode looks at the "jubilus" of the Alleluia chant for the 2nd Sunday of Advent! Listen to learn about this centuries-old practice of joyful Catholic worship!

    Subscribe to our mailing list for upcoming special announcements about my work at https://markemersondonnelly.com/get-involved/

    Please support these podcasts and our other Church music projects. Go to https://LifeFunder.com/mdonnellymusic

    You can also commission a composition (like the ChantHacks extro music), or host/sponsor workshops for a choir, parish, or diocese. If you’re a choir, schola, or parish music director, I am also available for mentoring. Please contact us either at mark@vocalart.org or allanna@vocalart.org

    Merry Christmas & God bless!

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    19 mins
  • Ep 8 - ChantHacks: De profundis (Let the Music Speak) with Mark Emerson Donnelly
    Nov 25 2023

    This is the Grand Launch of ChantHacks, and is the first installment of "Let the Music Speak" series.

    In the this episode, Mark demonstrates how we can look at the music as a means of commenting on the text or lyrics.

    Please support these podcasts and other projects. Go to https://LifeFunder.com/mdonnellymusic

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    20 mins