Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast

Gregorian Chant

Sacred Music

Catholic Church

Liturgical Music

Kyriale

Roman Catholic Church

Mass Ordinary

Latin Language

Catholic Education

Music Education

Organ Improvisation

Beauty

Liturgy

Ecclesiastical Pronunciation

Classical Education

The Credo

Medieval Liturgy

Alamire Manuscripts

Eucharist

Chant

You've got questions about sacred music? Here's your chance to learn what the Church teaches and envisions for music in the sacred liturgy. Welcome to Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast with your host Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka. We address topics of interest both to priests and liturgical musicians, as well as a general audience of Catholics interested in learning more about the Catholic Ch... more

152 ratings

Publishes	Twice weekly	Episodes	122	Founded	7 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	ChristianityReligion & Spirituality

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Latest Episodes

SE08 EP15 - The Solar Horarium & Monastic Fast According to the Rule of St. Benedict, Plus Praying the Chant & Making Beer - with Fr. Augustine Wilmeth, OSB, Prior at the Benedictine Abbey in Norcia

Fr. Augustine Wilmeth, OSB, Prior and Choirmaster of the Abbey of San Benedetto in Monte in Norcia, Italy, joins us to discuss the rootedness of monastic life in the daily ebb and flow of sunrise and sunset, and how that changes throughout different ... more

29 Jun 2026 • 41 min

SE08 EP14 - Conflict Resolution, Work-Life Balance, and Avoiding Burnout As a Church Musician - with Angela Rosson

Burn-out, conflicts, and lots of responsibilities often afflict the church musician. Counselor Angela Rosson joins us to talk about strategies for setting up personal boundaries, positively resolving conflicts with superiors and those under our charg... more

22 Jun 2026 • 43 min • Most popular

SE08 EP13 - A Masterclass in the Magisterial Compositions and Style of Palestrina - with Thomas Neal

Join us for a deep dive on the life and work of the most magisterial of composers, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Thomas Neal narrates a biography of Palestrina, touching on the composers who influenced him, how he learned music, his various posts... more

15 Jun 2026 • 1 hr 24 min • Popular

SE08 EP12 - Caring for Temples of the Holy Spirit: The Busy Church Musician's Guide to Nutrition, Health, and the Immune System - with Dr. Lizbeth Alter

A board certified physician in family medicine and in functional, anti-aging and regenerative medicine, Dr. Lizbeth Alter joins us to discuss some of the basics church musicians, often short on time and money, can consider in caring for their health ... more

12 Jun 2026 • 50 min

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Recent Guests

Father Augustine Wilmeth, OSB

Prior at the Benedictine Abbey in Norcia; choir master; brewmaster; headmaster of a small school

Abbey of San Benedetto in Monte in Norcia, Italy

Episode: SE08 EP15 - The Solar Horarium & Monastic Fast According to the Rule of St. Benedict, Plus Praying the Chant & Making Beer - with Fr. Augustine Wilmeth, OSB, Prior at the Benedictine Abbey in Norcia

Angela Rosson

Licensed mental health counselor; counselor at Mount Angel Seminary; longtime choral singer

Mount Angel Seminary; mental health professional in Washington state

Episode: SE08 EP14 - Conflict Resolution, Work-Life Balance, and Avoiding Burnout As a Church Musician - with Angela Rosson

Thomas Neal

Conductor, musicologist, and teacher based in Oxford

Director of Music, New College School Oxford; Ensemble Re Sacra

Episode: SE08 EP13 - A Masterclass in the Magisterial Compositions and Style of Palestrina - with Thomas Neal

Dr. Lizbeth Alter

Board-certified physician in family medicine and in functional anti-aging and regenerative medicine

Miami, FL (practitioner)

Episode: SE08 EP12 - Caring for Temples of the Holy Spirit: The Busy Church Musician's Guide to Nutrition, Health, and the Immune System - with Dr. Lizbeth Alter

Father Mark Bachmann

Choirmaster of Clear Creek Abbey

Clear Creek Abbey, Oklahoma

Episode: SE08 EP11 - Learning & Living Gregorian Chant as a Monk - with Fr. Mark Bachmann, OSB, Choirmaster of Clear Creek Abbey

Christopher Hodkinson

Director of Music at St. Mary in Marion, Ohio; associated with the School of Gregoriana of Cambridge

St. Mary, Marion; School of Gregoriana of Cambridge

Episode: SE08 EP10 - All About Sarum: Ceremonial, Chant, Sources, and Processions from Medieval England - with Dr. Christopher Hodkinson

Margaret Hughes

Tutor at Thomas Aquinas College

Thomas Aquinas College

Episode: SE08 EP09 – Is Beauty a Transcendental, Why Beauty Matters, and Can We Be Wrong About Beauty? Philosophical Questions Every Church Musician Should Consider with Dr. Margaret Hughes

Dr. Christopher Berry

Colleague at the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music, expert on chant accompaniment and organ projects

Catholic Institute of Sacred Music

Episode: SE08 EP08 - Chant Accompaniment, Organ Building, and Fundraising for Organ Projects - with Dr. Christopher Berry

Dr. Rosemary Heredos

Fantastic singer of chant

Chant and early polyphony specialist; teaching at Catholic Institute of Sacred Music

Episode: SE08 EP07 - Developing Great Vocal Technique for Singing Chant - with Dr. Rosemary Heredos

Host

Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka

Host of the show focusing on sacred music, liturgy, and education.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 152 ratings

Beautiful!
This is a 5 star!
It’s amazing to hear the story behind the music. I have learned so much, especially from the Tenebrae episode. Thank you!
Apple Podcasts
5
The SergeantMom
United States10 months ago
Diverse and Interesting!
I am enjoying listening to this podcast! I appreciate the diversity of topics related to Sacred Music and have learned so much. Favorite episodes include Modern Sacred Music with Kevin Allen (S1E9), Where Do I Start? A Pastoral Plan for Changing a Parish Music Program – with Dr. Mary Jane Ballou (S2E19), The Sacramentality of Sound: Bells and Their Place in Catholic Life – with Fr. Christopher Gray and Carl Zimmerman(S6E8), A Catholic Curriculum: A Model Music Program in a Classical High School ... more
Apple Podcasts
5
MamaMayerle
United Statesa year ago
Thank you!!!
Great source of information for continuing education and formational development! Thank you!
Apple Podcasts
5
AbeLeach
United Statesa year ago
Amazing
Great, fr fr no cap ngl its poggers
Apple Podcasts
5
a_dumb_ox
United States2 years ago
Excellent, practical discussion of serious sacred music
Thank you for a wide variety of guests, a knowledgeable host, and an inspiring outlook. I always enjoy and look forward to each new episode.
Apple Podcasts
5
gotersw
United States2 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging, high-quality interviews with expert guests and practical tips for parish music programs.

A thoughtful resource for understanding sacred music in liturgy and church history.

Listeners praise the host's knowledge and the breadth of topics covered.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#12	Indonesia/Religion & Spirituality/Christianity
Apple Podcasts	#45	India/Religion & Spirituality/Christianity
Apple Podcasts	#71	Indonesia/Religion & Spirituality
Apple Podcasts	#232	India/Religion & Spirituality

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

SE08 EP13 - A Masterclass in the Magisterial Compositions and Style of Palestrina - with Thomas Neal

Q: Can you set the record straight about the Pope Marcellus Mass myth and its relation to the Council of Trent?

The mass became a lightning rod for myth about saving polyphony, but the historical record shows the Council's concerns were about intelligibility and prohibiting profane material, while the mass itself is one example among several contemporaries influencing liturgical music; myths persist, but the current scholarship is actively re-evaluating its context and influence.

SE08 EP12 - Caring for Temples of the Holy Spirit: The Busy Church Musician's Guide to Nutrition, Health, and the Immune System - with Dr. Lizbeth Alter

Q: Which basic supplements should most people consider taking to support health and energy, especially under stress?

A multivitamin, B-complex, vitamin C (700-1000 mg daily), vitamin D3 (around 5,000 IUs daily with monitoring), and omega-3s, plus probiotics and magnesium at night as a routine for immune and general health.

SE08 EP12 - Caring for Temples of the Holy Spirit: The Busy Church Musician's Guide to Nutrition, Health, and the Immune System - with Dr. Lizbeth Alter

Q: What are some easy, cost-effective dietary changes people with limited resources can make to eat healthier while on a tight schedule?

Focus on meal prepping, use appliances like Instant Pot or air fryer, and prepare proteins and healthy carbs in advance; the goal is to reduce eating out, choose better fast food options when necessary, and keep a ready-made protein shake as a quick, nutritious option.

SE08 EP12 - Caring for Temples of the Holy Spirit: The Busy Church Musician's Guide to Nutrition, Health, and the Immune System - with Dr. Lizbeth Alter

Q: Could you start by listing the most common and preventable health problems you see in busy, stressed church musicians?

They typically see elevated blood pressure, pre-diabetes or high fasting glucose, and high cholesterol, all influenced by poor sleep, inadequate hydration, unhealthy eating, and lack of exercise, which are often reversible with lifestyle changes.

SE08 EP06 - What Did American Sacred Music Sound Like in the 19th & Early 20th Centuries? A Snapshot from St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York - with Salvatore Basile

Q: How did Tra le Sollecitudini and Pius X's reforms affect the cathedral's music program?

The motu proprio prompted a public, heated debate about repertoire and liturgical practice, leading to the removal of many composers' works and a shift toward stricter chant orientation, though the cathedral's leadership and musicians navigated these changes under intense media scrutiny, with women's voices briefly removed from choirs before reinstatement.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast

What is Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Square Notes offers in-depth conversations about sacred music within Catholic liturgy, appealing to priests, church music directors, and educated lay listeners. Episodes frequently feature scholarly and practitioner guests—chant specialists, organists, liturgical historians, bishops, and educators—who unpack topics from Gregorian chant and polyphony to organ building, chant pedagogy, and parish music programs. The show emphasizes practical guidance for improving church music, the spiritual formation of musicians, and the relationship between beauty, doctrine, and worship, often tying discussions to liturgical reforms, canonical norms, and historical traditions. A standout strength is its strong institutional backing from a theological music... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast:

1. Pints With Aquinas
2. The Thomistic Institute
3. The Road to Emmaus with Scott Hahn
4. The Word on Fire Show - Catholic Faith and Culture
5. The Liturgy of the Hours: Sing the Hours

How many episodes of Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast are there?

Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 122 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast?

Recent guests on Square Notes: The Sacred Music Podcast include:

1. Father Augustine Wilmeth, OSB
2. Angela Rosson
3. Thomas Neal
4. Dr. Lizbeth Alter
5. Father Mark Bachmann
6. Christopher Hodkinson
7. Margaret Hughes
8. Dr. Christopher Berry

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