Going to my parish’s elementary school in the 90s, we almost always sang the “newer” stuff (Haugen, Haas, Schutte, etc.) at our weekly school masses. I suppose they’re more “kid-friendly.” A lot of my classmates who weren’t/still aren’t regular weekend mass attendees probably don’t know most of the older stuff even though they went through Catholic schools. I only learned the “old” stuff at the weekend masses, which our parish tends to keep pretty traditional in terms of music. (I will admit I enjoy the traditional stuff, but sometimes I crave a little “All You Works of God” or “Anthem.”)

Re Thomas Acquinas and copyright: Tom wrote in Latin, so while the original may be out of copyright the translated versions aren’t necessarily so. The folks who look after copyright for James Quinn (d 201o) certainly keep an eye out to make sure his rights are respected.

My wife, who is a cradle Catholic knows them all, and is wondering what I’m up to when she hears them. As a late onset catholic they are new to me. The breadth of music used in our churches is amazing, but if that is how a community prays together and people are singing it has to be good.

That Thomas Aquinas guy must be annoyed that it’s all out of copyright.

cheers and thanks

Geoff