Beyond the Spire
Welcome to Beyond the Spire, a podcast of the Save Our Sacred Songs project at the Catholic Shrine of St Walburge in Preston, supported by the National Lottery.
In each episode, we go beyond what you see from the street, we explore the story and the sound of Gregorian chant, the Church's sacred song, so that this treasure of faith and culture is not just preserved, but lived and loved again.
Beyond the Spire
E09 • Practice: The Basics
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Two young men in formation join “Beyond the Spire”. Charles and Joshua introduce to the practical side of chant: books, notes and breathing. The guests explain the role of the Liber Usualis, online chant libraries, the difference between modern notation and neumes, and the importance of legato singing, modest breaths and listening to each other so that one unbroken line of prayer emerges.
Content
- Beginners are pointed to concrete tools: classic books such as the Liber Usualis (aka n°800, 801 or 780) and online libraries like GregoBase, which effectively place a full chant repertoire within reach.
- The episode introduces the basic building blocks of notation: the square punctum, simple neumes (from Greek πνεῦμα, “breath”), and how chant notation differs from modern scores.
- Chant is presented first as prayer and profession of faith: the Latin text comes before the melody, and understanding what one sings matters more than vocal display.
- Unity is essential: Gregorian chant is monophonic, so many voices must blend into one humble line, with no space for soloistic performance.
- Practically, the guests stress legato and discreet breathing: modest, staggered breaths within the group, constant listening, and an unbroken musical line that embodies a single act of worship.
Guests
- Charles Thompson
- Joshua Mambwe Haines
Sponsors
- National Lottery Heritage Fund:
- Global Sound Movement
- University of Lancashire
- Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest
External Links
Available on all podcasts platforms
Watch on YouTube @Beyond_the_Spire
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More about St Walburge’s Shrine
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