A Collection of Wisdom and Delight

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A Life in Music: Conversations with Sir David Willcocks and Friends. Ed. William Owen. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. 304pp. ISBN# 978-0-19-336063-1. A Plain and Easy Introduction to Gregorian Chant. Susan Treacy, Ph.D. 97pp. Charles Town, West Virginia: Cantica Nova Publications, 2007. Memento Mori. A Guide to Contemporary Memorial Music. Robert Chase. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 2007. 339pp. ISBN 13-978-0-8108-5745-2.x80.

What may appear as a collection of incompatible new books for the serious church musician, is in reality a cornucopia of insightful wisdom. Three different music enrichments are manifested in meaningful approaches to the art of music making.

The life of the legendary but still very active Sir David Willcocks is a lesson about a humble and dedicated servant of the best in choral tradition. In addition, Dr. Susan Treacy has written A Plain and Easy Introduction to Gregorian Chant. This is one of several recent publications providing again a very basic introduction to the chant and its notation. Finally, a fine compendium called Memento Mori by Dr. Robert Chase, is full of fascinating …