The interview features Kelly Dobbs Micus, Catholic editor for MorningStar Music, and composer Luke Mayernik, focusing on his recently published work, "Missa de Octava" (Mass of the Eighth Day). Mayernik shares his journey into music, drawn by the sounds of the organ during church visits with his grandparents. He discusses his composition process, influenced by his experiences and inspirations, including winning the VOCES8 Composition Competition with a setting of William Blake's "Little Lamb Who Made Thee." Mayernik elaborates on the significance of "Missa de Octava," which he composed weeks during Holy Week, expressing his spiritual conflicts and aspirations through music. The conversation explores the versatility of Mayernik’s compositions across denominations and their impact on liturgical worship. Additionally, Mayernik discusses his "Five Graces Psalter" Psalm collection and the joy he finds in witnessing musicians' interpretations of his work.
Luke Mayernik
David Ball, Cathedral Organist and Head of Music Ministry at Christ Cathedral in the Diocese of Orange, CA, shares practical tips about accompanying responsorial psalms and then demonstrates two examples with cantor Lauren McCaul, Cathedral Music Administrator.
Check out the interview!
The new volume of Responsorial Psalms for the 3-year Lectionary by Luke Mayernik is receiving rave reviews as an excellent resource for psalmody. This post continues to explore the practice of responsorial psalm singing in the context of Roman Catholic liturgy using The Five Graces Psalter for reference. We hope that these reflections will be helpful to cantors and accompanists, no matter where they are on their liturgical music journeys.
Jun 07 2018Getting Ready for NPM
Categories: Eileen Guenther , John A. Romeri , Luke Mayernik , Stephen Caracciolo , 80-416 , 90-52 , Catholic NewsWe're looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones at the upcoming National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) conference in Baltimore in just a few short weeks! From July 9-13, MorningStar & E. C. Schirmer will have a booth at the event, and partner with NPM to present several sessions that are great opportunities for Catholic musicians to come together and learn from one another.
We are especially excited to sponsor local clinicians Dr. Eileen Guenther to share her knowledge and passion regarding Spirituals and their roots in slave narratives, and Dr. Stephen Caracciolo to share his expert techniques for successful choral conducting.
Showcases
MorningStar has recently published a new volume of Responsorial Psalms for the 3-year Lectionary cycle by Luke Mayernik. In this series, we will explore the practice of responsorial psalm singing using the Five Graces Psalter for reference, in the context of Roman Catholic liturgy, while acknowledging that other traditions also use responsorial forms. Whether singing/playing responsorial psalms is new for you, or whether you are experienced, we believe these reflections will contribute to this aspect of your ministry.
Luke Mayernik's Five Graces Psalter is a collection of Responsorial Psalms for the entire three-year Lectionary cycle, and a welcome and worthy addition to the repertoire of Lectionary Psalms. The award-winning composer and organist has crafted memorable settings infused with harmonic freshness and melodic appeal—settings that bear the weight of the emotion and liturgical importance of the psalms.
When did you start composing?
As a child, I started taking piano lessons around the age of 8. In just a few short years, I was already re-arranging and discovering chord substitutions for all of the piano music Beryl Flemming (my piano teacher) would assign to me. Every Wednesday evening I would to her house for my weekly lesson, excited to share my "improvements" of classical/contemporary