Author Archives: Anthony Chase Fountain

Every Sunday at my well-attended church, virtually all service music is sung in Spanish. I wonder just how many of those in the pews are Spanish-only speakers–as high as the low single digits, you think? Do you suppose 400 miles south of the New Mexico border,  English is the main language of the service music?

Despite this blogger’s affinity for obscure facts of music history, a seemingly well known tale has escaped his attention. It concerns the ‘Cello Suites of JS Bach. Like so much of his music, it lay in obscurity for years/centuries until uncovered by accident. In this case it was Pablo Casals, who by chance came acrossContinue reading “Harkening back to Casals”

The Catholic music-product described in the previous post calls for a reminder of the glorious music of Holy Church’s past. A fine example is the breathtaking setting of Psalm 50/51, of David’s prayer of repentance, Miserere mei, by Vittorio Allegri Find below a link to an informative explanation of the work, followed by another link to aContinue reading “The past glory of Catholic liturgical music”

Is there no other kind composed these days? Other than in large cities, where the music of the Church can be superb (I was confirmed in one of them), in most suburban and rural locales it ranges from deplorable to life-shortening. Yet it seems ever more of it is published year after year, with talentlessContinue reading “Why must Catholic Church music be so bad?”

Not long ago I was shelving a pile of haphazardly stacked books when, to my dismay, I uncovered the volume you see below, the Rev’d George W Rutler’s, Calm in Chaos. My dismay had nothing to do with the book’s content, rather that it had been inscribed and presented by the author to this blogger,Continue reading “Cause and effect?”

There have been many false starts getting the Taos Tatler tattling again, all flops. Here is another one, but this time your Tatler is hell-bent (if you’ll pardon the expression) to succeed. To begin, the tale of how this blogger came to Rome. Some readers will protest they have read it already. True, but only inContinue reading “Having another go”

Results shall be posted.

Please know I have not dropped off the face of the earth and shall resume blogging soon. Know how grateful I am for your reading of the blog. More to come. ACF

From a wise man, Victor Davis Hanson. Thanks to GWR.