Open Your Hymnal

To mark the season of Lent, we are releasing one episode each week. This week, we are re-releasing one of our very first interviews. First published in 1991, "You Are Mine" is one of the most popular contemporary liturgical songs used in the Church today.  It consistently appears at the top of "favorite liturgical song" lists and surveys and is heard in parishes around the world. In this episode, composer David Haas speaks with Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert to break open the song, sharing the origins and intentions behind the piece.  Topics discussed include the emotional connections to liturgical music, singing text set in the voice of God, and what it means to "let a song go" when it has found a life of its own. David is joined by friend and composer Kate Cuddy. If you feel a connection to this beautiful piece, it will be deepened after you listen to this episode. So, please open your hymnal to "You Are Mine."

It’s our Lenten kick-off episode! To commemorate the start of the season, we are re-releasing our conversation with Alan Hommerding from February, 2017. You’ll hear the same great interview, but with added features like the OYH Playlist segment. Join Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert as they chat with composer and text-writer Alan Hommerding. They discuss the way metrical hymns works, the "evaporating pool" of hymn tunes in American parishes, and the need for a moratorium on the tune BEACH SPRING (no, not really). Whether you know a lot about hymns, are new to hymns, or think you don't like hymns (you're wrong, by the way), you'll learn something new in this episode.  So, please open your hymnal to "From Ashes to the Living Font."

We’re focusing on music written by women composers, and we’re blessed to be joined by five guests: Sarah Hart, Lori True, Carol Browning, Lorraine Hess, and Kate Williams. You’ll hear our guests discuss the experience of composing, publishing, and ministry as women. You’ll also hear several additional composers featured in this episode’s OYH Playlist. So, please open your hymnals!

We’re focusing on the rich heritage of the Black sacred music tradition, and we’re blessed to be joined by two important voices: Leon Roberts (recorded in a presentation from 1985), and Lynne Gray. Join co-hosts Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert for an exploration of the treasury of hymns, spirituals, and gospel songs. You’ll hear lots of standard and familiar music, and you’ll also hear selections from several contemporary composers. So, please open your hymnals!

We are kicking off a new year with our second conversation with Dan Schutte! In this episode, co-hosts Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert speak with Dan about his song, “City of God.” They talk about its origins as an Advent song, the musical structure of the piece, the importance of the St. Louis Jesuits in forming a generation of guitar players, and more. So, please open your hymnal to "City of God."

We are closing out Advent with our fourth release, our first ever “OYH Lessons & Carols.” You’ll hear a range of great music from a variety of composers. You’ll also hear readings woven throughout, read by friends of the podcast: David Haas, Jes Garceau, Audrey Reichert, Carol Browning, and Jesse Manibusan. Whether you listen while driving in the car, baking Christmas cookies, preparing for liturgy, or anyplace else, we hope that this celebration will serve as a moment of pause and reflection during this busy time of year. So, please open your hymnals!

Advent is going fast, but it’s not over yet! Join Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert as they speak with composer Carol Browning about “Creator of the Stars of Night.” Bob Moore stops by to talk about Carol’s music, and Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, gives some historical background to the 1,000-year-old chant hymn at the core of this piece. Plus, you’ll hear a bunch of great music in the OYH Playlist. So, please open your hymnal to "Creator of the Stars of Night."

It’s another very special themed episode of OYH! To commemorate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we’re playing some of our favorite Marian songs and hymns. We’ll play a lot of music, in a lot of different styles, including liturgical and devotional music. You’ll hear songs celebrating Mary as servant, as mother, as queen, as intercessor, and Marian songs from around the world. You’ll hear, too, from a few of our friends as they share their favorite Marian songs. So, please open your hymnals!

Did you know that 2018 is the 200th birthday of the song “Silent Night?” To celebrate both this important anniversary and the start of the Advent season, we are re-releasing our interview with Dan Kantor about his song, “Night of Silence.” You’ll hear the same great interview from 2017, but with added features like the OYH Playlist segment. Dan Kantor's song, "Night of Silence," has been sung and celebrated in churches and concert halls around the world. In this episode, Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert chat with Dan about writing vivid text, creating harmonic structure, and the importance of celebrating Advent. We also learn new words like "Quod Libet," Matt gets Zack to both play his guitar and sing for our listeners, Rob Strusinski shares his memories of this song’s origins, and we explore the importance of Advent with a reflection written by Rachel Held Evans. So, please open your hymnal to "Night of Silence."

It’s the first OYH Hymn Fest! In honor of the Feast of St. Cecilia, patroness of music, we’re celebrating some of our favorite hymn texts and hymn tunes. We’ll play a lot of music, including hymns from the English, German, Irish, and American traditions and some recently composed texts and tunes. We’ll also chat with special guests Dr. Michael McMahon (executive director of The Hymn Society), Brian Hehn (director of the Center for Congregational Song), and Dr. Tony Alonso. You’ll hear, too, from a few of our friends as they share their favorite hymns.

You likely knew that composer Steve Angrisano is very talented musician and speaker. But, did you also know that he’s a great foot washer? It’s just one of the many things we discussed when we discussed his setting of Psalm 63, “My Soul is Thirsting.” Join co-hosts Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert as they speak with Steve about songwriting, contemporary music, family ministry, mentorship, and what the Church gets wrong about young people. We’ll also get a little closer to answering the question that’s been on all of our minds: just how big of a nerd was Zack in high school? It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss! So, please open your hymnal to "My Soul is Thirsting."

We’re welcoming Fr. Michael Joncas back to speak about another one of his best-loved compositions: “No Greater Love.” While many know this popular song, not everyone knows that it was composed as part of a full Mass setting. So, there are a lot of layers to today’s episode: orchestral Mass settings, setting Scripture to music, using chant-like melodies, the effect of changes to the Mass translation, and what it means to compose “theatrical” liturgical music. We’ll discuss all of these with Fr. Michael, and explore them further with additional choices in the Open Your Hymnal Playlist. So, please open your hymnal to "No Greater Love."

Open Your Hymnal is making its debut on Catholic radio tomorrow (September 1st)! To celebrate, we are releasing a re-mastered version of our very first podcast episode, "On Eagle's Wings," with composer Fr. Michael Joncas. The re-release includes the addition of our newest feature, the Open Your Hymnal Playlist, and more. Please enjoy this episode, originally released in May 2017! [From the original episode posting]: The song "On Eagle's Wings" is everywhere: hymnals, YouTube, funerals and memorial services, and even PBS television specials. In this episode, Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert interview the song's composer, Fr. Michael Joncas, to learn more about the story of the song, the writing and publication process, and the song's legacy. There is even a surprise revelation about the connection between this beloved piece and Stephen Sondheim, and you don't want to miss it. So, please open your hymnal to "On Eagle's Wings".

It's been a busy summer for Open Your Hymnal - conferences, travel, new interviews, new partnerships. Now, co-hosts Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert return from their summer break to a conversation with composer Fr. Ricky Manalo, CSP, about his song "Many and Great." They discuss musical style, cultural idioms, compositional influence, cultural identity, and more! They also introduce a new segment - the "Open Your Hymnal Playlist" - featuring songs Zack and Matt picked that relate to one of the conversation threads from the episode. So, please open your hymnal to "Many and Great."

There is a lot to unpack in our Season 2 premier: the role and place of contemporary music, style wars, the synthesis of faith-culture-life, how we must do a better job of sending instead of just gathering, and more. Even Hootie & the Blowfish make an appearance! Listen as Zack Stachowski and Matt Reichert speak with composer John Angotti about one of his best-loved songs, "I Send You Out." They'll touch on all of the topics already mentioned, and offer insights into the pastoral, musical, and liturgical realities of being music missionaries, not just music ministers. In doing so, John shares about his creation of the song, his own journey and vocation as a music minister, and the critical work of ministry. So, please open your hymnal to "I Send You Out."