Below are some excerpts from today's email newsletter from Virtual Sheet Music.

My friend and orchestral collaborator, André van Haren, does Sibelius engravings for Fabrizio Ferrari at VSM. I assure you that the music scores from this company are meticulously prepared according to strict "house rules" (style sheets). And the practice videos are awesome. They feature concert pianist Lisa Maresch and are directed by pro audio engineer Raj Lathigara. A unique interactive video player allows you to easily speed up and slow down the tempo of the piano accompaniment audio/video track and set up loops and markings while reading your scrolling solo instrument part within the same video. The perfect tool for practice or live music performances! – Richard Schletty, Top Catholic Songs editor

Latest Sheet Music and News (November 13)

New music has been added to the Virtual Sheet Music site.

Many of our users have not discovered our entire catalog yet, so here is the link: virtualsheetmusic.com/Downloads.html

New Premium High Quality Sheet Music

These are high quality, downloadable and printable digital sheet music titles by Virtual Sheet Music® offered in PDF file format complete of audio MIDI and Mp3 files. Most of these items also include Mp3 accompaniment files to play along with your computer or Mp3 audio player. 

"Concerto No. 1 in C major" for violin and piano, by Franz Joseph Haydn https://www.virtualsheetmusic.com/ml/ConcertoHaydn1VlPf

New Exclusive Transcriptions and Arrangements in High Quality Sheet Music by Virtual Sheet Music®

These are exclusive high quality, downloadable and printable digital sheet music titles by Virtual Sheet Music offered in PDF file format complete of audio MIDI and Mp3 files. Most of these items also include Mp3 accompaniment files to play along with your computer or Mp3 audio player... 

From GIA Publications:

Singing Our Faith—Second Edition

A comprehensive resource designed to aid all who prepare children for liturgy, and liturgy for children.

Hymnal: Singing Our Faith–Second Edition is an exciting mix of great music, diverse styles, and broad scope—the ultimate resource for young people, kindergarten through eighth grade. Singing Our Faith is truly a book kids can grow with—not out of—on their journey to be full participants in Sunday worship.

Leader's/Catechist's Manual: The Leader/Catechist Manual provides a wealth of information on sound liturgical principles by leading experts on liturgies with children. Noted pastoral musicians offer... 

Nick Alexander here...

This is a list of my favorite Thanksgiving songs.

1. Thanks by Ceili Rain
2. Give Thanks to the Lord by John Michael Talbot
3. Thank You Lord by Celeste Zepponi

Preview 9 more songs of thanksgiving... 

From Jeff Ostrowski at Corpus Christi Watershed:

Complete Palestrina Edition • Now Online!
published 14 October 2016 by Jeff Ostrowski

Palestrina • Jaw-Dropping "Kyrie" based on a Hymn
published 18 October 2016 by Jeff Ostrowski

The complete works of Palestrina can be downloaded in PDF format, but the clefs are archaic. I promised to show what can be done with these scores and today I fulfill my promise. They can quickly be placed into SIBELIUS, so the archaic clefs are eliminated. Then your singers can more easily enjoy these treasures, many of which have not been sung for centuries! First let's explore:

   PDF Download • KYRIE "Te Saeculorum" (Palestrina)

Two generous young ladies—currently in high school—helped me record it... Read more by clicking story links above.

Explore several selections of Music for All Saints and All Souls.

Brought to you by GIA Publications.

Hosanna in Excelsis (5th June 2016) - staff and sol-fa

Kyrie 27th August 2016 Small Mass

BREAD OF THE ANGELS - Staff and Sol-fa (8th August 2016)

Sung at the funeral of Arthur Minus 9/29/2016. Church of St. Matthew, St. Paul, MN. Jack Heitzinger at the piano. Sr. Anne Becker on organ. 

Holy God, we praise Thy Name; 
Lord of all, we bow before Thee! 
All on earth Thy scepter claim, 
All in heaven above... 

Lord for the Poor (a Hymn) 14th September 2016 - Staff and Sol-fa

Our humble hands have worked the land - A Hymn

Come to the Water. Tune: John B. Foley, SJ. Text: Isaiah 55:1, 2, Matthew 11:28-30. (c) 1978, John B. Foley, SJ, and New Dawn Music.

Oh let all who thirst
Let them come to the water
And let all who have nothing
Let them come to the Lord
Without money without price
Why should you pay the price
Except for the Lord?

And let all who seek
Let them come to the water
And let all who have nothing
Let them come to the Lord
Without money without strife
Why should you spend your life
Except for the Lord?

And let all who toil
Let them come to the water
And let all who are weary
Let them come to the Lord
All who labor without rest
How can your soul find rest
Except for the Lord?

And let all the poor
Let them come to the water
Bring the ones who are laden
Bring them all to the Lord
Bring the children without might
Easy the load and light
Come to the Lord

From Jeff and Cynthia Ostrowski at Corpus Christi Watershed:

Kevin Allen has released a fantastic choral collection choirs everywhere will welcome. Click here to download a sample page. This collection is for SAB: Soprano, Alto, Bass. It is 42 pages long. It was published in 2016. The composer is Kevin Allen, highly regarded as a composer of opera, chamber, and orchestral music. He has developed a unique... 

O God, Our Help in Ages Past by Isaac Watts, 1674-1748. Presented at Church of St. Mary, downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. Rich and Larry leading.

1. O God, our Help in ages past,
Our Hope for years to come,
Our Shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal Home!

2. Under the shadow of Your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Your... 

The Ministry of Brothers of Heart in Peace and Sound. Anderson wrote: "I'm a Catholic musician since 1999. Nowadays I'm playing electric guitar in a band named 'Irmãos de corração'."

Music theory tutorials by André van Haren, starting with the basics. 

Note that the YouTube video here is a playlist. Click on "hamburger" icon in upper left corner of YouTube video to select lessons, or let them auto-play. I will be adding lessons to this playlist in the days and weeks to come. Follow along!

Visit Andre's music site at www.andrevanharen.com

Sung by Richard at St. Mary's in St. Paul, Minnesota. Text: Ernest E. Ryden, 1886-1981, alt., © sts. l-3, Lutheran Church in America, © st.4, 1958, Service Book and Hymnal. Tune: O WALY WALY, LM; English; harm. by Martin West, b.1929, © 1983, Hope Publishing Co.

From Jeff Ostrowski at the Corpus Christi Watershed website:

Learn how to sing in an SATB multi-part choir!

Get started by downloading the PDF below:

PDF Download • GUERRERO KYRIE “Part C”

Then sing along with the YouTube videos at www.ccwatershed.org/blog/2016/aug/18/polyphony-dummies/

Let us know how well you did and what you learned!

O Christ, the Great Foundation. Lyrics: T. T. Lew. Tune: AURELIA. Sung at St. Mary's Church on 8/13/2016. More at www.hymnary.org/text/o_christ_the_great_foundation

O Christ, the great foundation
On which your people stand
To preach Your true salvation
In every age and land:
Pour out Your Holy Spirit... 

A new Mass that is inspiring, versatile and engaging:

Mass of Christ, Light of the Nations by Tony Alonso

With a through-composed and verse/refrain Gloria, SAB choir plus descant, and instrumentation for two C instruments, trumpet, cello, piano or organ, Mass of Christ, Light of the Nations offers a wide variety of texture possibilities and is an effective setting for any ensemble. Accessible for the choir and congregation alike, it will quickly become a favorite that you return to continually throughout the liturgical year.

Preview Choral / Accompaniment Edition

Listen to Excerpts